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2026 Practice Challenge

Jedi Training Guidelines

To ensure each young musician’s training remains healthy, focused, and effective, the Jedi Council has established the following limits per practice session during the challenge:

• Younglings & Young Padawan (Suzuki & Beginner divisions): up to 30 minutes

• Jedi Apprentice (Intermediate division): up to 45 minutes

• Padawan Knight & Jedi Knight (Junior Orchestra & High School): up to 60 minutes

Students who wish to train longer are encouraged to take a break and recharge before beginning a new practice session.

Practice Challenge Scoring
Students earn points for every minute recorded on their practice sheet, plus a 25-point bonus for each day they practice. This daily bonus is designed to reward consistent practice throughout the week.

For example, if two students each practice 90 minutes in one week, the student who practices over six days will earn 240 points, while the student who practices all 90 minutes in a single day will earn 115 points.

For the Younglings (Suzuki division), parent involvement is essential—time spent actively listening to Suzuki recordings counts as practice time, and parents should complete the practice log.

A photo of the practice log is due by 6:00PM on February 7, 14, and 21 via text or email (616.828.8321 | dreimer@greatlakescfa.org). This complete paper log should be turned into a Jedi Council Member the week of March 2.

Weekly leaderboards will be posted on the DGSP website and Facebook page.

Mark your calendars! Final results will be revealed during the DGYO Concert on March 23 —where we’ll celebrate the dedication, discipline, and growth of our rising Jedi musicians.

Divisions:

Suzuki - Younglings
Beginner - Young Padawan
Intermediate - Jedi Apprentices
Jr Orchestra - Padawan Knights
High School - Jedi Knight

Printable Practice Log
Printable Practice Log

Upcoming Competition Schedule

Schedule Coming Soon!

For Parents

Parent Involvement

Encourage your child to practice to their full potential. Whether practicing with them for younger students or monitoring their practice time for older students, any support helps. For more information about how your child should be practicing, see Practice Tips.
Be sure to be checking and signing your child's practice log before submitting it by the deadline each week.

Submitting Practice Logs

Each practice session should not exceed what is healthy and effective for student learning. The scoring for the challenge will count no more than the following minute totals per practice session: 30 minutes (Suzuki and Beginner levels), 45 minutes (intermediate level), 60 minutes (Junior Orchestra and High School). Students who wish to practice longer should take a break and then start a second practice session.
The Suzuki method emphasizes parent involvement in home practice, so this division has some unique rules. Time spent actively listening to the Suzuki recording counts as practice time and parents should be the ones to fill out the practice chart.
Parents are asked to submit their child’s practice log by 6:00PM on Saturday, February 8 and 15 by either text or email (616.828.8321 or dreimer@greatlakescfa.org). Leader boards will be posted on DGSP Facebook page and website so that you can check to see if your student is among the leaders in their division. The first round concludes at 9:00PM on Friday, February 21, so all practice log’s should be texted or emailed at that time (paper copies should be turned in at the student’s next class or lesson).
Students who finish the first round in the top 16 of their division will be notified on February 23 that they will be participating in the Sweet 16 round, which runs from February 24-March 1. A new practice log will be made available to print for the final rounds.
Students will receive a paper copy of a practice log in class. To submit a paper log, please take a picture and then either text or e-mail to Dr. David Reimer at 616.828.8321 or dreimer@greatlakescfa.or

Questions? Contact Dr. David Reimer at 616.828.8321 or dreimer@greatlakescfa.org

Print a Practice Log

Reminders

Practice time does not include classes, lessons, or rehearsals. Practice, for the sake of this challenge at least, is defined as time playing the music individually assigned by the teacher. If a student takes a break of at least three minutes, they should pause their practice record. If a student or parent has questions about this definition, please contact Dr. Reimer
Each practice session should not exceed what is healthy and effective for student learning. The scoring for the challenge will count no more than the following minute totals per practice session: 30 minutes (Suzuki and Beginner levels), 45 minutes (intermediate level), 60 minutes (Junior Orchestra and High School). Students who wish to practice longer should take a break and then start a second practice session.
It is important to treat this as PRACTICE, not as PERFORMANCE. What matters for scoring is to demonstrate an understanding of how to practice efficiently and effectively. That includes taking small chunks apart and solving difficulties along with repetition and includes attention to a specific technique, ie. working on bow arm/hand, vibrato, shifting, etc. Students should work on a scale and one section of a piece of music. If there are any questions, please talk with your teacher and/or Dr. Reimer.

Practice Tips

Seek Help Ask a teacher for help in how to practice and ask a parent for help in reminding you to get started each day.

Plan Find a good time in your schedule to practice every day.

Stretch Gently prepare your fingers, hands, and arms to play.

Technique Practice good fundamentals by using proper technique on a scale or review song. Technique includes posture (feet, arms, hands, head), Left Hand (straight wrist, accurate and curved fingers), Right Hand (bow hold, wrist, elbow, shoulder), and Special Skills (bow styles, vibrato, shifting).

Divide & Conquer Find sections of your piece that are challenging and practice the specific skill that needs improvement.

Repetition Build a new habit by repeating something correctly 10-20 times.

Perform When you perfect all the elements of the song, imagine you are performing in a concert or perform for your friends or family.

Note Reading Practice identifying note names and rhythms.