Miyot

This is really a difficult subject to get right. I think only you can figure out what is right for you. I was up to 3 hrs per day. This was a mistake for me, many problems with fatigue. I just wasn't getting a full recovery between workouts. I eventually recovered from overwork and settled on an hr. and a half per day, with a day off every 5 days. This worked for a while. I now play 2 hrs per day with one day off per week.

Also I try to go light one day and normal the next. I am doing two 45 min. sessions with an hour between and a final 30 min session an hr. or two later. I always adjust according to how I feel. Yesterday I had a 30 min jam with my daughter during my regular practice session. I played full volume on 4 Chicago tunes while my daughter played drums. Today I took it easy, staying on Clarke studies at pp, not doing any range work but still doing my 2 hrs. Just not straining any today. Tomorrow I'll be tougher on my chops if it feels right. Mostly I now play a lot softer, pay attention to enough rest, and try to balance my sessions for continued progress.

One guy does a three hr. session and says it is the minimum you should do. The next guy does only an hr. and has abused his chops by mashing the horn into his face or playing ff the whole time. I think this is actually the holy grail of your progress. Doing just enough without overworking, and it is different for us all. If you are overworked and not really injured, extended time off won't work. I do best with a regular schedule, staying with my 2 hrs per day, adjusting sessions to fit how my chops feel. Two days before a gig I back off and do a light hr, and a half. The day before the gig I do about 50 minutes, with no straining, just a good warm up and some light work.

I am still searching, and will no doubt change things as I develop. Take a day off per week. You can always change back later if you want. Don't take a day off just before a gig. This doesn't work for me anyhow. After a day off I come back feeling a little soft, it seems to take 2 days to get solid again. I don't rush back in with big power and range work. I just plod along, doing my studies and moving forward. Right now its working.