The Big IDEA method was designed by Katie O’Hara LaBrie, a Middle School Orchestra Director, and Tracy Magwire, a Middle School Band Director, with the goal of teaching their students how to practice efficiently and effectively; to get away from simple time based practice records, and give students a path to becoming self-motivated, independent, life-long learners. 

In quantity-based logs, we often wonder whether the students are being truthful. Are they truly practicing, or just “playing through” the music? With these types of logs the goal of practice can become skewed - the goal focuses on time practiced, rather than effort and achievement. 

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Using The Big IDEA, we have designed quality-based practice journals, where the students set goals based on musical principles, execute a variety of strategies that effectively help them meet those goals, assess their skills, and analyze what to do next.  

Since implementing The Big IDEA into our classes, we have seen an upswing in student practice, musical knowledge, rehearsal interaction, and performance. We hope that these resources will prove useful for you and your students!