The Best Practice Routine for Wind Instrumentalists

Learning to play a wind instrument can be a rewarding experience, providing a unique avenue for creative expression and personal development. The key to mastering your instrument lies in consistent and mindful practice. Here’s a guide to help make the most of your practice sessions.

Wind instruments should always begin your practice session with warm-up exercises.

• Long Tones: Play long, sustained notes to improve breath control and tone quality. Focus on producing a steady, clear sound.
• Breathing Exercises: Practice deep breathing to support better airflow. This is crucial for wind players as breath control directly impacts your sound.
• Scales: Scales are the building blocks of music. Practice major and minor scales regularly. This will improve your finger dexterity, intonation, and familiarity with different key signatures. Practicing scales also allows us to memorize the sharps or flats that are found in key signatures. 

Playing with a metronome helps develop a good sense of timing and rhythm. Start slowly and gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable with the piece you are practicing.

Divide your practice time into focused segments:

• Technical selections of music: Practice etudes and selections from a method book to apply technical skills in a musical context.
• Repertoire: Work on the charts and musical selections assigned in your ensemble program. Ensure that you are always starting on the measures first. 

After you have completed the activities above you may have some extra time. Try some of these activities to round out your musical skills:

• Sight Reading: Regularly sight-read new music to improve your ability to read and play new pieces quickly.
• Improvisation: Turn on your favourite songs and have a mini jam session. Play your own melodies in time with the music and have some fun!