DubbaCTrumpetMSU

Mr. Carroll, here is the message I sent you earlier, but here's a topic for it. What do you do the week of a big performance, especially if you have another performance and practice and a lesson the week before? My senior recital is Sunday, and I have a lesson Tuesday, a full symphonic band and wind ensemble concert Thursday, a run-through on Friday, and then the recital is Sunday afternoon. What do you do to get yourself ready the week of, especially if you have other things like these going on beforehand? Do you lay off that week, minus the concerts and lesson, or what do you do personally? I'm wanting the recording of this recital to be very good, so I can use it for many things. I'm just wondering what a pro like you usually does the week before a big recital or concert, especially if you have to play stuff in between.

Russ

ecarroll

Russ,

Thanks for an interesting topic.

The first thing that you should do is not worry about your recital. Look forward to it as a chance to play good music for your friends and don't turn it into a monumental, life-defining, moment.

That said, I suggest that you do your regular series of playing during the week preceeding your concert. Don't hold back, but don't artificially go for everything either. Add a series of daily breathing exercises, for relaxation, to your daily routine, and finish each day (and loud ensemble) with 10 minutes of really soft playing, ie the Charke 1st study in PPP. These 2 things will address the most common problem found in a recital for those unaccustomed to giving them: tension from shallow breathing and lack of response.

Consider taking Saturday off after breathing exercises and a full warm-up. Listen to some music that really turns you on (nothing from your program, please). Take a long walk someplace nice. Lastly, and most importantly, get 8+ hours of sleep on Friday and Saturday night. Your chops (and mental clarity) will thank you for that Sunday morning.

Get dressed, warm up at the hall, and spend 30 minutes before your show in a quiet room by yourself. No socializing. You can do that afterwards. Close your eyes, blow warm air through your horn, and hear yourself playing beautifully. The mind is a powerful thing, Russ. Engage it! Lastly, enjoy playing live music for your friends. Listen deeply, in present time, and they will too.

Easy, isn't it? Fun too.

Best,
EC

DubbaCTrumpetMSU

Mr. Carroll...thanks a ton for that advice. I probably wouldn't have done any extra, but I may have mentally 'laid off' had I not talked to you. That's some good advice, and I'll follow it to the letter....I think the music I'll listen to is Chris Botti's Italia album...that always helps clear my head. That will help things a ton-thanks again!

Russ R.

By the way, I may post some of my recital on TM eventually, also...I'll see what some people think about it.

JustinSmith

Have a great recital Russ. All the best.

DubbaCTrumpetMSU

Thanks, Justin. I hope this comes out very well-I could use that CD for quite a few things, much less the audition for money I'm using it for, on my graduate school app. Here's the program...

Concertino for Trumpet and Piano- Ernst Sachse
Fanfare for St. Edmundsbury- Benjamin Britten
Nessun Dorma, from Turandot - Puccini
Sonata for Trumpet and Piano- Eric Ewazen
Someone to Watch Over Me- Gershwin (On flugelhorn)

That last piece means a ton to me, because the night I proposed to my fiancee, I brought her to that same stage, had the lights set, and sat her down, and played it for her..solo trumpet- and then proposed. Now, she'll get to her the full song, on flugelhorn, with the piano. I can't wait. If anyone here has played the Ewazen-get this...my accompanist...is playing with sprained/broken wrist. It's insane, but she's amazing, and apparently it doesn't hurt. I hope it turns out well. I know it's probably not a 'technically challenging' program...but for me...I think the challenge lies in the easier pieces...Nessun Dorma, the Gershwin...the challenge lies in sending that to the audience in a way that it affects them. I figure the Ewazen and the Sachse give me enough of the technical aspect of things.

Russ