| If I have trouble the next day I aproach the horn softly at first. I'd never say that I "baby" the chops, but I ease them back into working order. With my job, I play lead trumpet EVERY night. If I know that I have a very demanding night ahead of me then I'll be sure to take a long (1/2 hour) warm-up session. I'll do whatever it takes to make me feel ready to tackle some serious playing. If my schedule is tight, this routine can be stripped to its bare essectials and can be done in five minutes.
Essentially, having a clear idea of what playing sounds AND feels like will help take away the bad days - even after demanding gigs. Practice obtaining this feeling each and every day. Repitition will help produce a more dependable result. Eventually your body will find the most efficient way to get the imagined result. Maintain that feeling and the long days will "just be another day" of makeing music. |