Sample Saxophone practice plan tutorial by Saxophonist and teacher Amonn AL-Mahrouq

• Do not expect to progress at the same rate all the time. You may find yourself moving more quickly one week than the next. Don't worry - this is perfectly natural.
• Always try to make your practice environment as pleasant as possible.
• Always try to practice in a well ventilated area.
• Avoid practicing when you are feeling tired, however this is sometimes a good indication of how you might play under pressure - e.g in an exam or concert situation.
• Never practice half-hearted.
• Always start every practice session with a 5 minute warm up - playing only long and low notes.
• Never practice a piece all the way through - take out the more complicated passages.
• Always try to start a piece in the middle or the end.
• Always practice until it is impossible to get the piece or passage wrong.
• Practice is cumulative.
• Always try to practice using different rhythms. This will improve your muscles and evenness of execution.
• Always try to play more complicated passages backwards.
• Play difficult passages for 1 minute, going round and round them without stopping and breathing, using different rhythms.
• Always think the music through in your head before you begin.
• Practice without your instrument. Finger the passage through without blowing air into your instrument. This is effective for learning complex pieces quickly.
• Always practice slowly, then work the speed up gradually. Never practice a piece at the same speed, always practice at varying speeds.
• When preparing concert or exam pieces, play them three times slowly then twice at a moderate tempo then once fast.
• Always try to internalise your music. Music comes from the heart.
• Always try to practice for short periods every day rather than 1 hour before your lesson. If you are practicing more intensively (say 3 hours) remember to take regular breaks every 20 or so minutes.
• Always aim to cover all areas in your schedule.
• ALWAYS practice slowly, then work up to the speed.
• LONG NOTES ARE ESSENTIAL
• Always practice intervals (Large jumps) - eg, Major thirds (i.e E to E, D to F etc)
• Try not to stay on one area for too long.
• Slow methodical practice will ensure success.
• Always listen to yourself and be critical of your playing.
• Always ask other people's opinion of your playing.
• Scales and arpeggios are the food for music, start and finish every session with them.

My Sample plan is as follows :-

5 minutes - Long notes, long and low. These could be combined with scales, if this option is to be taken your scales should be in quavers at crotchet = 60

10 minutes - Pieces - Pick your weaker areas, following the above guidelines.

10 minutes - Technical exercises, go round the difficult passages/bars for 1 minute without stopping or breathing - making sure that you are playing rhythmically and with a consistent sound.

5 minutes - Sight reading

Above all, your music should be enjoyable to you, the performer and the listener. Practice in short, concentrated periods - FOCUS!

• How you think of your playing is crucial to your future.
• If you feel good you will be more motivated.
• Always aim higher