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stewmuse · 09-18-2006, 09:18 AM

Ladies & Gentlemen -

After playing many outdoor (and indoor) gigs this summer, I'm finding that my chops really respond poorly in humid conditions, especially if I'm sweating. Last evening was a perfect example.

I had two very strong evenings on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday, I drank lots of water all day to keep hydrated, played about two hours of warm-up and light technical stuff. While warming up last night (Sunday) for the gig, I was in a cooler and dry room away from the stage area. Things felt REALLY good and I was sure a good performance was in order.

Going up to the performance, I put on my coat, sat down and started to get really warm quite quickly. By the downbeat, I was already wiping my face and forehead (as were several other folks in the band). For the first 40 minutes, it was a real struggle to make things work. When I "suddenly" got cooler (AC turned on???), things went decidedly better.

This seems to be a wholly physical problem. I don't get nervous when playing (yes, occasional moments during extra difficult passages or solos on gigs, etc., but not as a general rule). I'm looking for ideas that those of you who have experienced this type of thing might be able to share in how to limit the effects of humidity on your chops. Thanks!

09-18-2006, 09:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
stewmuse Pianissimo User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NW Chicago Posts: 190	Humidity vs. Chops Ladies & Gentlemen - After playing many outdoor (and indoor) gigs this summer, I'm finding that my chops really respond poorly in humid conditions, especially if I'm sweating. Last evening was a perfect example. I had two very strong evenings on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday, I drank lots of water all day to keep hydrated, played about two hours of warm-up and light technical stuff. While warming up last night (Sunday) for the gig, I was in a cooler and dry room away from the stage area. Things felt REALLY good and I was sure a good performance was in order. Going up to the performance, I put on my coat, sat down and started to get really warm quite quickly. By the downbeat, I was already wiping my face and forehead (as were several other folks in the band). For the first 40 minutes, it was a real struggle to make things work. When I "suddenly" got cooler (AC turned on???), things went decidedly better. This seems to be a wholly physical problem. I don't get nervous when playing (yes, occasional moments during extra difficult passages or solos on gigs, etc., but not as a general rule). I'm looking for ideas that those of you who have experienced this type of thing might be able to share in how to limit the effects of humidity on your chops. Thanks! __________________ Dr. Michael Stewart Lead Trumpet, Chicago Grandstand Big Band www.stewmuse.com