SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE

1. Begin slowly when learning new music. Go no faster than can be done correctly.
   

2. Use the metronome to set, check, or maintain tempos. Practice with a steady rhythm.

3. Correct mistakes and repeat sections to reinforce

4. Follow a fingering plan

5. Always do enough hands alone practice to make each part strong and secure

6. Set practice goals and write them down

7. Work on small sections to improve each area. Do more then just play through songs.

8. Check to see that all assignments have been done before finishing

9. Daily practice is best to be successful

10. Always play some music just for fun beyond assigned music. Play some favorites.

11. Listen to recordings of music being learned after some practice has been done.

COMMON MISTAKES

1. Playing too fast
   

2. Not using the metronome as instructed

3. Not correcting mistakes

4. Not following the prescribed fingering using random fingering patterns

5. Not enough hands alone practice

6. Playing with poor attention to correct rhythm or very uneven rhythm

7. Not working on problem sections in small groups of measures

8. Putting in a preset number of minutes with no real attention to improvement (clock watching)

9. Playing only assigned music --nothing additional just for fun

10. Not following instructions or doing all of assigned lesson material