mazzrick

Ed,

I just got back from a month which I spent nearly all of on the road. I didn't even bring a trumpet with me for a 10 day trip (which was the longest I've ever gone). I buzzed a bit though. I have a two fold topic here.

First, I was wondering if you could share you're experience with staying in shape while on the road and how you go about doing that when you don't have a time or place to practice well? What are your priorities? Buzzing? singing? etc.

Secondly, what are your feelings on taking a significant amount of time off every once in a while? Maybe a week or two each year. I know after I came back from the 10-day respite I felt great after 4 or 5 days of getting back into shape.

Does anyone else have experience with either of these topics?

Matt

ecarroll

Matt,

Hello from Montreal where the winter from hell continues. It's snowing again this morning.

Regarding breaks in your practice routine, taking time off from occasionally is often a good thing. The break might serve to re-vitalize your practice should it be falling into a rut, give your face a chance to come back after a grueling period of work, etc. Listen to your body.

Creating practice time while on the road is a terrible problem -- both in finding the actual time and in finding a space to work. I have a pianist friend who goes to piano showrooms and pretends to be interested in buying a new instrument,and then works for an hour or two that way. At least our instruments are portable.

Grabbing 20 minutes here and there is sometimes all you can hope for or, if you're lucky, a half hour backstage after your show. The secret is identifying what your playing needs for day-to-day maintenence and being efficient in addressing those needs. 3x 20 minutes still adds up to an hour. You simply can't waste any of those precious minutes noodling around. Breath attacks, bends, some of the pedal note exercises in Thibaud's book, etc. Whatever you identify as a need. Maurice Andre, as we've discussed only practiced first attacks. . .

Best and watching here for more on this rather large topic,
EC

rowuk

In 40 years of playing, I have had one break of 5-6 days (honeymoon) and a second of two weeks (sick). Other than that, just an occasional day or weekend.
If we are a little "sensitive" to our state, we often see where things are getting stale (not just with the trumpet). We have many options: change our routine for a while, take time off, augment our routine with something crazy like sports (swimming). The important part is the ABILITY to see the issue and the POWER to react in a fruitful way.
Take notes, set goals and rewards. That keeps us awake - even after many years of consistent practice!