Practice Planner: A Journal of Goals and Progress

 

What is the Practice Planner?

The Practice Planner is a tool to help students acquire self­ motivation to practice while simultaneously developing a balanced technique and musicianship. The Practice Planner is a way of think­ing because the way you think determines the way you practice and what you accomplish.

Who is the Practice Planner for?

Whether you are a student, a teacher, a parent nurturing your child’s musical interest or a music lover embarked on a self­-study program, the Practice Planner has something unique to offer.

The Practice Planner is a Journal and Lifelong Resource

Your Practice Planner journal will be a bound record of what you want to accomplish in the next year’s practicing. Each two page Practice Planner chart will be part of a bound record of the steps taken to get you from where you are to where you want to go. And, the ample space for lesson assignments, practice records, questions, teacher’s comments, musical discoveries and musical examples will become a gathering place for valuable hints and sug­- gestions—hints and suggestions that are usually hidden in the mar­gins of method books or lost on discarded scraps of paper.  When completed, your Practice Planner will become your per­sonal journal, diary and lifelong musical resource.

Benefits for Students of All Ages

The Practice Planner helps musicians of all ages develop a healthy attitude toward practicing by setting musical goals that will define their reasons for practicing. It also helps musicians gain a greater understanding of how the techniques they are practicing can be used musically.

In addition, the Practice Planner gives students the opportunity to:

-develop self-­motivation by thinking about why they are studying music and how music can enrich their lives.

-take an active role in planning their musical studies.

 -start each practice session with a purpose and end with a sense of satisfaction by making each practice                            session worth the effort and not just filling time with busy work.

 -take responsibility for their own progress, and add depth to lesson assignments by focusing on all areas of a                       balanced technique.

  -develop a balance of technical skills and musicianship.

  -explore the value of ear­-training, listening and sight­reading as important and enjoyable parts of practicing.

  -develop a healthy dialogue with teachers, parents and friends about practicing.

   -develop planning skills that can be applied to all areas of study, interests or hobbies.

Use the Practice Planner as an Independent-Study Organizer

The Practice Planner is perfect for students who would like to continue in band, orchestra or chorus, but are unable to fit these activities into their class schedule. The Practice Planner also ben­efits students receiving school credit for private instruction and students taking independent­ study courses. It supplies a single vol­ume for developing independent­ study programs, at all academic levels, with defined goals and deadlines.

 

About the Author Harvey R. Snitkin, PH.D. is an award-winning educator and musician. He holds both a doctorate in Music Education (Supervision and Curriculum Development) and an M.A. in Oboe Pedagogy, from the University of Connecticut, plus a Bachelor of Music Education from the Hartt College of Music. He has taught all levels of public school music, as well as at the Armed Forces School of Music, University of Connecticut, Hartt School of Music, and Three Rivers Community Technical College (CT). He has spear- headed numerous arts education grants, and while serving 25 years as music director of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Youth Orchestra, he presented hundreds of elementary school programs as leader of the Symphony's Music-In-The-Schools Trio.He is a two-time recipient of the Connecticut Songwriters Association's Contribution to Education Through Music Award. Dr. Snitkin is a member of the Recording Academy (a voting member of the Grammy awards), an associate composer of BMI, and the author of the Reed-Maker's Series (HMS Publications, Inc.) for oboe, bassoon, and single-reeds.