#band tips

1. Use a planner! I know that’s such an over-used tip but actually do it. If I don’t write down all my homework assignments (and band assignments), I forget them. If you have a playing test or a cut you need to practice, write it in your planner with the rest of your homework. That way you have everything you need to do all in one place.

2. Take your instrument home every day! Even if you think you won’t have time to practice, take it home. That way if you finish early you can still get in a few minutes of practice time.

3. Practice before you do your homework! A lot of people wait until after they finish homework, but by that point I’m usually so tired that I make excuses not to practice. You don’t have to take an hour or even 30 minutes, but just take 10 or 15 minutes right when you get home to run through some scales or one cut of your music. You don’t have to push your homework back a ton, but just practice for a few minutes to stay fresh.

4. Take private lessons! (if you can). I know not everyone is able to afford lessons, but if you can absolutely take them. A lot of teachers will also work with you on payment options if you’re honest about your financial situation. Look for college students or people that just graduated college because a lot of them teach lessons for a little extra income at more discounted rates. Ask your band directors for recommendations and payment help (most band programs have financial aide for things like that). Taking lessons really motivates me to practice because I love my teacher and I don’t want to disappoint her. She can always call me out when I don’t practice so taking lessons gives you tips for how and what to practice, and give you the motivation or the reason to practice.

5. Give yourself a bedtime! Obviously we’re always going to have late nights, but give yourself a deadline that if your stuff isn’t finished you just go to bed anyways. Being well rested will help your mental health and help you perform better in school and on your instrument.

6. Tell your teachers the days you’ll be missing for band at least two days before! A lot of teachers have way more patience to let you turn things in late if they know you’ll be out beforehand. Don’t spring it on them right before or after the fact. Know what days/periods you’ll be out for band performance or contest so they can either give things to you in advance or you have more leeway to turn things in late. This seriously helps so much and it gets you in good graces with your teachers for school in general.

7. Utilize your Saturdays! Now that marching season is over, your Friday nights and Saturdays are probably more free than before. If you can, do a few things on Friday night but don’t stress. Use Friday night for social activities and taking time for yourself. Then, get up on Saturday morning and knock your homework out. If you have a ton of work, then you have the whole weekend to do it. If you don’t, then you get a free Sunday to do whatever you want to do. I’m not saying you have to get up at 6am on Saturday morning, but just set an alarm for 8:30 or so and have a relaxed morning with breakfast and all that jazz. Write out a to-do list and just get things done.

8. Make a list of academic and musical goals for the year/semester/month/etc. and post them somewhere you’ll see them often! If you make a list of things you want to accomplish in whatever time frame you want and then keep that list somewhere obvious (near your desk, on your bathroom mirror, etc.). You’ll see it often and it will help you stay motivated when you’re exhausted or not motivated.

9. Make time for other hobbies! Yes, I love band and it is definitely a hobby. However, it can also be a chore when you have fifteen million other things to do. So make time (think those free Sundays you now have) to casually pursue another hobby. If you like drawing, carry a notebook or sketchpad around in your backpack to utilize free time at school. If reading is your thing, do the same with a book. Take whatever free time you can find and use it for hobbies. Yeah, you could study on the bus - but you could also just listen to music or read or just chill out because you’re a human being and you need time for yourself to not do things.