Back to School, Back to Music: Getting Your Practice Routine Back on Track
There’s something exciting about the start of a new school year.
New classes. New teachers. New notebooks. New friends. New goals.
And for young musicians, there’s often something else on the list: picking up their instrument again after a long summer.
Maybe you practiced all summer and feel ready to go. Maybe you barely touched your instrument. Maybe you’re completely new to music and are holding a flute, clarinet, trumpet, or trombone for the very first time.
Wherever you fall on that spectrum, getting back into the swing of things takes a little time.
And that's okay.
You don't need to come back from summer playing exactly the way you did in May. You don't need to be perfect on your first rehearsal. And if you're a beginner, you certainly don't need to know everything right away.
The beginning of the school year is about building the routine again- one breath, one note, and one practice session at a time.
Expect a Little Rust
If you're returning to an instrument after several weeks or months away, you may notice that some things feel harder than they used to.
Your fingers might feel slower.
Your embouchure might tire more quickly.
Your tone might not sound quite like you remember.
You may have forgotten a few notes, scales, fingerings, or pieces.
That's normal.
Musicianship is a physical skill. Just like an athlete may need some time to get back into shape after a break, musicians need time to rebuild coordination, endurance, and muscle memory.
Instead of thinking, "I've lost everything!", try thinking:
"I'm warming back up."
That small mindset shift can make returning to music feel much less intimidating.
Start With the Basics
When you're getting back into music, it's tempting to immediately jump into whatever challenging piece you were playing last year.
But your warm-up is where you can rebuild your foundation.
Start with simple exercises:
Long tones
Scales
Easy melodies
Basic articulation exercises
Finger or slide technique
Simple breathing exercises
Give yourself permission to start with things that feel easy.
If you're a teacher, this is also a great opportunity to remind students that fundamentals aren't "baby music." They're the building blocks that allow musicians to play more difficult music later.
A few minutes of focused fundamentals can go a long way.
Don't Forget the Breath
For wind players, one of the most important things to revisit after summer is breathing.
Students may have forgotten what a full, supported breath feels like- or they may never have learned it in the first place.
That's especially true for beginners.
Breathing can seem obvious because we do it automatically all day long. But musical breathing is a skill. Musicians need to learn how to inhale efficiently, control their airflow, and release air steadily while playing.
This is where tools like the Breath Builder® can be useful.
The Breath Builder® turns breathing into a visual exercise by using a lightweight ball that responds to the player's airflow. Students can see whether they're maintaining steady air, which gives them something concrete to work toward.
Instead of simply telling a student, "Take a bigger breath," you can give them an opportunity to feel and see what controlled airflow actually does.
And for younger students, turning breath work into a little challenge can make something that might otherwise feel boring much more engaging.
Keep Practice Short at First
One of the biggest mistakes students can make when returning to music is trying to do too much too soon.
After a summer away, jumping immediately into an hour-long practice session can feel exhausting- and it can make practicing feel like punishment.
Instead, start small.
Try 10–15 minutes of focused practice and gradually increase the amount of time as your stamina returns.
For example:
Week 1: 10–15 minutes
Week 2: 15–20 minutes
Week 3: 20–30 minutes
Of course, every student is different. The goal isn't to follow a rigid schedule- it's to create a routine that feels sustainable.
Consistency matters more than cramming.
Create a Routine That Fits the New School Year
Summer schedules are often wonderfully chaotic.
You might sleep later, travel, spend time with friends, go to camp, or simply have fewer obligations.
Then suddenly September arrives and everything is scheduled again.
That transition can be tough.
Instead of expecting yourself to magically become perfectly organized overnight, build your practice routine into your new schedule gradually.
Maybe you practice:
Right after getting home from school
Before dinner
After homework
First thing on weekend mornings
Before another regular activity
Try attaching practice to something you already do consistently.
And remember: a routine doesn't have to be complicated to work.
Teachers: Give Students Permission to Rebuild
Teachers play an enormous role in helping students transition back into music.
The first few rehearsals don't have to be about proving what students remember.
They can be about discovering where everyone is starting from.
Try incorporating:
Group warm-ups
Breathing exercises
Easy ensemble pieces
Rhythm games
Sight-reading activities
Short sectionals
Low-pressure playing challenges
For returning students, this provides a chance to rebuild skills.
For beginners, it gives them a welcoming introduction to the instrument without overwhelming them.
And for everyone, it establishes an important message:
We're here to learn. We're not expected to already know everything.
Make Practice Feel Like Progress
Especially with younger musicians, motivation can disappear quickly when practice feels like an endless list of things they aren't doing well.
Look for opportunities to celebrate progress.
Can they hold a note longer?
Play a scale without stopping?
Remember three new notes?
Keep the ball suspended in the Breath Builder® for a little longer?
Play through a passage without a mistake?
Those little victories matter.
You can even turn some of them into friendly challenges.
Music doesn't always have to be serious.
Sometimes making practice feel like a game is exactly what gets students excited enough to keep going.
And If You're Brand New? Welcome!
Not every student returning to school is returning to music.
Some are picking up an instrument for the very first time.
That can be exciting- and a little scary.
If you're a beginner, remember that nobody expects you to sound like a professional musician on day one.
You're learning an entirely new physical language.
Your fingers need to learn where to go.
Your mouth and breath need to learn how to interact with the instrument.
Your ears are learning what different notes sound like.
That's a lot!
Give yourself time.
Ask questions.
Celebrate weird sounds.
Celebrate squeaks.
Celebrate the first note that actually sounds the way you intended.
Every great musician was once a beginner.
Give Yourself Time to Find Your Rhythm
The beginning of a school year can feel like a lot.
New routines. New expectations. New responsibilities.
Music doesn't need to become another source of pressure.
Instead, let it be one of the things that brings you back to yourself.
Take a breath.
Warm up.
Play something you enjoy.
Work on one small skill.
Then do it again tomorrow.
You don't have to get everything back at once.
You just have to keep showing up.
Whether you're a seasoned band student, a teacher welcoming a new class, a college musician returning to campus, or someone picking up an instrument for the first time, this is your reminder:
You don't have to start the school year perfect. You just have to start.
Take it one note, and one breath, at a time. 🎶
