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Originally Posted by 40cal Like working out, if you take a month off don't expect to be in your best form when you start again. I ease myself in to playing when I spend that much time away from the horn. |
Guys, thanks for the posts and support - in refererence to the above, I didn't do anything strenuous at all and my two sessions were very short - the first lasted just over 20 minutes, the second about 15, and believe me, having been down this road before, I know that I'm not going to be able to just go for it.
40Cal, you hit the nail on the head when you spoke of being frustrated because you remember your past, higher level of proficiency. In terms of chops, sound and cleanliness of playing, I have NEVER been as good as I was when I was 20-21 years old and full time in a good Army band. But, right there are the key words - "full time". I suppose that it's just too much to expect to be able to play like I did then when I was playing up to 6+ hours a day in big bands, concert/ceremonial bands and brass quintets.
I'm at the beginning of a regimen designed to get some things going with my playing - steady, daily practice (I find that if I actually sit down to do it, I actually enjoy it once I start) and I have also started to do some things physically that are being done with the purpose of making a dent in my proficiency on the horn. The first are the breathing exercises I described to Bear last week. The second is getting out there and getting some good cardio exercise. I'm currently doing "sprints" every day on the Nordic Trac. The first 5 minutes are done as a warm up, and then I'll sprint for 2 minutes - back off for three and so forth, doing that 3-5 times. (maybe more eventually) Hopefully I'll burn off some excess baggage and increase my lung capacity at the same time.
Wish me luck!