We all worry about how much students practice. For the last 47 years I have asked band students if they are [also] athletes, and how much they practice.
Then I ask why they practice so much. The universal answer is “We want to get better.” I then ask what would happen if they practiced their instrument that many hours, and there is a wonderful reaction of the obvious. I then rest my case. You must be engaged in making music to get better. We all know this, but out students must do it.
Dan Fairchild
University of Wisconsin Platteville
Platteville, Wisconsin
