Originally Posted by John P

The way my prof explained it (and yes, I know it sounds crazy, but it WORKS, I promise you) is you have to pee at least two or three times in the morning before you play. I'm not totally clear on the science of it, but it has something to do with all the urine you hold in while you sleep. When you're awake, you go to the bathroom fairly frequently, every few hours. When you're asleep, however, you're holding in all that urine for upwards of seven or eight hours. It doesn't just stay in your bladder. Toxins and whatnot spread throughout your body, making your lips and fingers feel "swollen" when you wake up. Apparently going to the bathroom twice before you play will bring you back to normal. Osmosis or something...who knows. I thought it was BS at first, but I tried it for a 9 AM rehearsal and it made all the difference. I'd never played so well in the morning.

I know that was a really lame explanation, but give it a try, go for that extra cup of OJ or coffee at breakfast. You won't be sorry.