972-722-6874

Rockwall School of Music’s Exclusive Weekly Practice Plan: The 10 X 10 Plan For Success

10/12/2015

Home | News

Rockwall School of Music’s Exclusive Weekly Practice Plan

The 10 X 10 Plan For Success

Designed by Russ Porter

GOAL: To improve 10% each week by improving 1% in each of the following 10 areas

Day 1: Make a video recording of your first weekly practice session as you practice items 1-3:

  1. Lesson assignments
  2. Technique assignments
  3. Music Theory and Rhythm

Day 2: Repeat items 1-3 and add:

  1. Sight-reading (Tip – Look at the next lesson assignment and try to play it from start to finish without stopping.)
  2. Memorization (This may be only a small portion of one of your current assigned songs or can be part or all of a song that you learned in the previous weeks.)

Day 3: Repeat items 1-3 and add:

  1. Listen to or view other performers via YouTube (with parent supervision)
  2. Apply musicianship and artistry to your practice time by emphasizing the musical markings placed in your music by the composer/arranger or any suggestions made by your instructor.

Day 4: Repeat items 1-3 and add:

  1. Create/compose your own song (Tip- You can start out by creating your own melody or using the melody from one of your current or previous songs and change the way it is played to reflect your personality and your style.)
  2. Stump the Teacher with your Musical Knowledge (Seek out one unique bit of information regarding the composer/arranger of one of your assigned songs or the time period in which the piece was composed. Share that information with your instructor at your next lesson.)

Day 5: Make a second video recording of your last weekly practice session.

Compare the video made on day 1 with the video at the end of the week and see how far you’ve come in just one week!

Don’t forget to share your successes with your parent and your teacher!

Perform one of your pieces using your best performance etiquette for a friend or family member.

Tip 1: Never leave your practice time unhappy. Save your favorite musical assignment for that day and do it last. This will serve as a ‘reward’ for the hard work that you have put into your practice.

Tip 2: Try making a game out of one of the assignments for the day. For example: Play the ‘opposite game’ with one of your songs. If the music calls for the song to be played softly, play it loud. If it calls for the song to be played slowly, play it fast. If it calls for the song to be played in the middle register of the instrument, play it higher or lower. Adding variety to your routine allows you to experience different ways of interpreting the music that you are learning. It also makes it more like fun!

Rockwall School of Music Receives National Award of Excellence!

Rockwall School of Music Receives National Award of Excellence!

Apr 15, 2025 |

We’re still beaming with excitement and gratitude—and we couldn’t wait to share the news with our wonderful Rockwall community! Karen and I are absolutely thrilled to announce that Rockwall School of Music has been honored with the Award of Excellence from the Music...

63goodies
Fantastic facility, owners and programs! Extremely impressed!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We're thrilled you enjoyed our facility, owners, and programs. Your kind words mean a lot to our team. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Arron Wokal
Response from the owner:Thank you, Arron, for the wonderful 5-star rating. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and are glad you had a great experience. We look forward to serving you again soon.
Kevin Hadawi
A community staple for decades. Truly the best around!
Response from the owner:Kevin, thank you so much for this wonderful review and for supporting us over the years. We’re honored to be a community staple and thrilled you think we’re the best. We look forward to serving you for many more years.
Becky Massey
Our daughter, who is now a college student at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, took viola and guitar lessons for several years at RSoM, and did several vocal camps there in the summer. We loved her instructors, the family feel, and the quality of the school. It definitely was a major influence in shaping her musical journey!! We are so blessed to have this school in our community.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Becky — we are so grateful for your kind words. We’re thrilled RSoM played a role in your daughter’s musical journey and proud to hear she’s at the Jacobs School of Music. It means a lot that you appreciated our instructors, family atmosphere, and summer programs. We’re honored to be part of your community and wish her continued success.
Michael Criner
Excellent leadership that produce excellent students!! Highly recommend!!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Michael. We're delighted to hear you appreciate our leadership and the hard work our students do. Your recommendation means a lot to our team and motivates us to keep improving.
Kevin Fowler
Unsurpassed music education, quality instruction and integrity. Small businesses don’t last 30 years without doing something right. Rockwall School of Music is a Rockwall gem.
Response from the owner:Kevin, thank you so much for your kind words and for recognizing our 30 years of service. We're proud to provide high-quality instruction, integrity, and a welcoming environment for musicians of all ages. Your support means the world to our small business. We look forward to continuing to serve you and the Rockwall community.
John Beaman
Congrats to RSM's 30th anniversary! Great place with great people - absolutely love RSM!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you, John! We’re thrilled you enjoyed your experience and appreciate your congratulations on RSM’s 30th anniversary. Our team is proud to serve great customers like you and we look forward to many more years together. Your support means a lot to all of us.
Gary Smothermon
The Porters are first class and they run a first class school of music. Integrity counts in today’s business environment.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Gary — we truly appreciate your glowing review and kind words about the Porters and our school. Integrity and first-class music education are priorities for us, and your recognition means a great deal. We appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you back.
Shey Stegall
Russ and Karen run a great business. A business that has been serving the community for 30 years!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words, Shey. Russ and Karen appreciate your recognition of our 30 years serving the community. We’re grateful for your support and look forward to continuing to serve you.
David Vega
Rockwall School of Music has been an incredible part of our son's musical journey. The instructors are talented, supportive, and truly care about helping students reach their full potential.

Thanks in part to the training, encouragement, and opportunities he received through Rockwall School of Music, our son recently earned acceptance into the prestigious Butler School of Music at The University of Texas. We are grateful for the role the school played in helping him develop both his musical skills and confidence.

If you're looking for a place where students can grow, be challenged, and achieve their goals, I highly recommend Rockwall School of Music. The impact they have on young musicians is truly remarkable.
Response from the owner:Thank you, David, for your wonderful review and for trusting us with your son's musical education. We're thrilled he was accepted to the Butler School of Music at UT and proud to have played a part in his development. Our instructors truly care about helping students grow musically and personally, and your recognition means a lot to the whole team. We appreciate your recommendation and wish him continued success— we're always here to support his next steps.