practice Archives - Colin Dorman

Improving Endurance on the French Horn

For brass instrument players, endurance can be

a challenging skill to develop. Here are

my thoughts on what real endurance requires.

Trying to substitute intensity for consistency in

any musical practice is a recipe for

disappointment. Here's a better way.

A few thoughts on preparing for

All-District and All-State auditions for middle

and high school students.

It seems counter-intuitive, but a 5

minute per day practice plan can

lead to long-term improvement.

Most students practice like they are working on a

Ford assembly line. But a method developed by Toyota

in the late 1940's can unlock so much more.

When is a good time to start (or improve)

your practice routine? Right NOW! Here are some ways

to start (or tweak) your practice for maximum results.

Two practice strategies to help students develop

a consistent practice habit and improve their

technique at the same time.

The first step of knowing how to teach yourself (or

others) is learning how to learn. And this video on

neuroplasticity can give you all the tools you need.

A new website by the horn professor

at Western Illinois University aims to help

brass players reduce or prevent overuse injuries.

Your warm-up is a daily vote for how you

want to play when you're under pressure. Make sure

that you make your vote count every single day.