| hmmm....I'll try to answer your question a different way. If you need more stamina, the question is not really whether you're pushing yourself too hard, I think. Rather, it's "what can I do to build more stamina?"
- I know for me (and some others) a regular, gradual, warmup routine can make the difference between playing well all night, or wrestling an aligator after an hour on the gig.
- the afore-mentioned top-tones and Arban's exercises. There may be others that help you build stamina. I'd recommend a lot of long tones and slow lip slurs also.
- when you practice (believe me, with schedules what they are today I know this is easier said than done) try to break up your practice sessions to more than one big session. this will give your chops a chance to recover and might help to develop more stamina (it works for me)
- never hurt yourself when your practicing or playing
- if you find your chops are tired, take another night a week off. I know that when I get 'tight' I'll take a day off and MAN! The next day I feel great....again, I know this is sometimes easier said than done with playing committments and all....
Hope this helps,
bigtiny |