#PlayOnWNY Practice Challenges
In order to enhance motivation and promote continued practice among students, we invite all WNY young instrumentalists to participate in #PlayOnWNY’s monthly Practice Challenges.
Two unique challenges will be released each month under the following themes:
Adjective of the Month Challenge
Step 1: Discover the Adjective of the Month.
Step 2: Learn about the adjective- it’s meaning, feeling and use.
Step 3: Explore how the adjective may be used musically. How would the adjective sound in music? Would the music be fast or slow? Loud or quiet? High or low?
Step 4: Discover how the adjective can be described through musical expression. Practice playing through a scale of your choice as you interpret it to sound with the given adjective.
Practice Topic of the Month Challenge
Step 1: Discover the Practice Topic of the Month.
Step 2: Watch the example video that relates to your own instrument. What concept is being taught in the video? Practice the technique or topic using your own instrument.
Step 3: Explore how to demonstrate the concept in music. Have fun and be creative! Use a scale, etude, musical phrase, or improvise to display your best performance of the learned concept.
Adjective of the Month: Careful
Using the example video by BPO musician Sheryl Hadeka below, perform your musical interpretation of the given adjective, using a scale of your choice.
Adjective of the Month: Focused
Using the example video by BPO musician Sheryl Hadeka below, perform your musical interpretation of the given adjective, using a scale of your choice.
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Practice Topic of the Month: Tools for Musical Practice
Using the following video examples by BPO musicians, employ one of the practice tools (using a tuner or metronome, etc.) while playing a passage on your instrument.
Click the links below to explore additional instrument videos…
FLUTE: Good Breathing Technique
Adjective of the Month: Aggressive
Using the example video by BPO musician Sheryl Hadeka below, practice your musical interpretation of the given adjective, using a scale of your choice.
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Practice Topic of the Month: Scale Play-Alongs
Using the following Play-Along Scale Practice videos, practice playing scales on your given instrument with BPO musicians.
Click the links below to explore instrument-specific scale practice videos…
VIOLIN: One-octave Scales
VIOLIN: Two-octave Scales
VIOLIN: Three-octave Scales
VIOLIN: Three-octave Scales, Advanced
FRENCH HORN: One-octave Scales
Adjective of the Month: Jolly
Using the example video by BPO musician Sheryl Hadeka below, practice your musical interpretation of the given adjective, using a scale of your choice.
Practice Topic of the Month: Warm-up Exercises
Using the following video examples by BPO musicians, perform your favorite warm-up exercise on your given instrument.
Click the links below to explore additional instrument videos…
CLARINET: 5-note Warm-up
CLARINET: 12-tone Daily Warm-up
Adjective of the Month: Slow
Using the example video by BPO musician Sheryl Hadeka below, practice your musical interpretation of the given adjective, using a scale of your choice.
Practice Topic of the Month: Learn About a New Instrument!
Explore the Instrument Demo videos by BPO musicians to learn about a new instrument!
Click here to explore Instrument Demos.
Adjective of the Month: Choppy
Using the example video by BPO musician Sheryl Hadeka below, practice your musical interpretation of the given adjective, using a scale of your choice.
Practice Topic of the Month: Articulation
Using the following video examples by BPO musicians, practice various articulation techniques on your given instrument.
Click the links below to explore additional instrument videos…
VIOLIN: Playing with a Straight Bow
Adjective of the Month: Smooth
Using the example video by BPO musician Sheryl Hadeka below, practice your musical interpretation of the given adjective, using a scale of your choice.
Practice Topic of the Month: Proper Breathing
Using the following video examples by BPO musicians, exercise proper breathing while practicing your given instrument.
Click the links below to explore additional instrument videos…
FLUTE: Good Breathing Technique
Adjective of the Month: Bright
Using the example video by BPO musician Sheryl Hadeka below, practice your musical interpretation of the given adjective, using a scale of your choice.
Practice Topic of the Month: Instrument Care
Using the following video examples by BPO musicians, join us for some Spring cleaning by practicing proper Instrument Care for your given instrument.
Click the links below to explore additional instrument videos…
Adjective of the Month: Warm
Using the example video by BPO musician Sheryl Hadeka below, practice your musical interpretation of the given adjective, using a scale of your choice.
Practice Topic of the Month: Advanced Practice
Use the following video examples by BPO musicians for advanced practice tips and techniques for your given instrument.
Click the links below to explore additional instrument videos…
VIOLIN: Three-octave Scales, Advanced
FLUTE: Fingerings for Flats
FLUTE: Advanced Fingerings