How do you get back to playing well after not playing

ttf_anonymous · Post by **ttf_anonymous** » Sat Apr 29, 2017 9:46 am

I've been in a situation in which I haven't been able to play (hardly at all) for the past 2 weeks. I sound pretty bad, and I was wondering if you guys had any advice for getting back to where I was before the hiatus. Thanks!

ttf_anonymous · Post by **ttf_anonymous** » Sat Apr 29, 2017 9:57 am

I'm assuming that you had some sort of routine before your little break so surely starting that again would be best??

ttf_anonymous · Post by **ttf_anonymous** » Sat Apr 29, 2017 10:52 am

I am in your situation right now. I will do what I do every practice session - start at the beginning. Long tones, slow lip slurs, deep breathing and some flow studies, generally ballad type stuff. I will only play for about 30 minutes the first day or two. After that, I feel ready to go with my usual routine.

ttf_SethMatrix · Post by **ttf_SethMatrix** » Sat Apr 29, 2017 11:25 am

Quote from: trb420 on Apr 29, 2017, 09:46AMI've been in a situation in which I haven't been able to play (hardly at all) for the past 2 weeks. I sound pretty bad, and I was wondering if you guys had any advice for getting back to where I was before the hiatus. Thanks!

Well just think about what you want it to sound like and then do that on the horn. Long tones and Lip Slurs.

ttf_savio · Post by **ttf_savio** » Sat Apr 29, 2017 2:11 pm

Quote from: SethMatrix on Apr 29, 2017, 11:25AMWell just think about what you want it to sound like and then do that on the horn. Long tones and Lip Slurs.

Blend with many coffee breaks. Some simple soft melodies always helps. Take your time, don't hurry. Listen some good trombone music for inspiration. Always enjoy whatever you do.

Leif

ttf_blast · Post by **ttf_blast** » Sat Apr 29, 2017 2:17 pm

Quote from: trb420 on Apr 29, 2017, 09:46AMI've been in a situation in which I haven't been able to play (hardly at all) for the past 2 weeks. I sound pretty bad, and I was wondering if you guys had any advice for getting back to where I was before the hiatus. Thanks!

Stop playing opera...

Chris Stearn

ttf_schlitzbeer · Post by **ttf_schlitzbeer** » Sat Apr 29, 2017 2:42 pm

Quote from: blast on Apr 29, 2017, 02:17PMStop playing opera...

Chris Stearn

+5 And stop watching Oprah......

ttf_slide advantage · Post by **ttf_slide advantage** » Sat Apr 29, 2017 3:25 pm

Three suggestions:

1) Long tones
2) Long tones
3) Long tones

ttf_Geezerhorn · Post by **ttf_Geezerhorn** » Sat Apr 29, 2017 3:32 pm

In what order?

...Geezer

ttf_musicofnote · Post by **ttf_musicofnote** » Sun Apr 30, 2017 1:56 am

I'm in that position now. I was in the middle of a come back after 3 years of not having played. I'm on vacation now, right in the middle of 2 weeks away from the horn. Then I have 2 weeks to get together for a Big Band concert. I know, that I'll have to find my sound again first. And be comfortable with it. That means middle register and extend that downward, remembering to relax and sue broad slow air, not forced. Since the BB gig only goes up to an f, I'll not worry about anything about an e-flat for the first 3 days. I'll concentrate on just getting the sound I know I had before the vacation. And I will realize, that the endurance I lost will come back, but not by brute force. I'll not worry about slide technique. I knew the charts before I left on vacation, so that'llremain.

My go to exercises are variations of Chichowicz flow exercises of my own design. Also Alan Raph for getting sound and articulation in double-paddle and pedal registers. Then I do a little playing from the Bachmann/Slokar book. Take a 10 minute break and do some etudes from Bordogni.

ttf_Woolworth · Post by **ttf_Woolworth** » Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:56 am

I was in a situation where I went nearly 4 years without playing a note. When I finally returned to music, the formula was: Long tones, lip slurs, simple melodies and scales...combined with lots of patience and rest! In two weeks I was back to about 90% of my previous abilities.

ttf_harrison.t.reed · Post by **ttf_harrison.t.reed** » Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:36 am

Brad Edwards!

ttf_JP · Post by **ttf_JP** » Sun Apr 30, 2017 11:45 am

Assuming that you were in good playing condition before you took a break, I read something about this many years ago and have tried it often after taking 1-2 weeks off the horn (which I make a point to do every year), it works for me.

First time back, carefully go through an easy warm-up: long tones, easy lip slurs, a few scales. Then, play anything--a solo, an etude, a familiar song--in mid range fff about 3 times. As loud as you can play with a good sound. 15-20 minutes. Put the instrument away, next day go back to your regular practice, just avoid difficult playing (hard lip slurs, wide range, extremely fast stuff, etc) for about a week.

It is a shock technique to your embouchure, breathing, and articulation. Like a long distance runner getting back in shape by running a few fast sprints.

ttf_afugate · Post by **ttf_afugate** » Mon May 01, 2017 4:03 am

Quote from: JP on Apr 30, 2017, 11:45AMAssuming that you were in good playing condition before you took a break, I read something about this many years ago and have tried it often after taking 1-2 weeks off the horn (which I make a point to do every year), it works for me.

First time back, carefully go through an easy warm-up: long tones, easy lip slurs, a few scales. Then, play anything--a solo, an etude, a familiar song--in mid range fff about 3 times. As loud as you can play with a good sound. 15-20 minutes. Put the instrument away, next day go back to your regular practice, just avoid difficult playing (hard lip slurs, wide range, extremely fast stuff, etc) for about a week.

It is a shock technique to your embouchure, breathing, and articulation. Like a long distance runner getting back in shape by running a few fast sprints.

I discovered something similar for myself. The extreme playing does make a difference for me when I've had to lay off for a bit. I'd recommend following JP's whole process.

--Andy in OKC

ttf_harrison.t.reed · Thu May 18, 2017 11:27 am

Recently just got back from weeks of field training and classroom stuff that left my face weak. I played through the first movement of the Harvest trombone concerto as loud as I could. It is very rough at first but even after a few sessions of this I remembered how to play again. I think it's that it must be played loudly and supported with lots of air to be played at all that it works so well for this purpose!

It should be called the Harvest Warmup Concerto.

best of all the solo part is FREE on the composer's site:

http://www.ostimusic.com/images/SoloTrombone.pdf

ttf_harrison.t.reed · Thu May 18, 2017 11:27 am

Recently just got back from weeks of field training and classroom stuff that left my face weak. I played through the first movement of the Harvest trombone concerto as loud as I could. It is very rough at first but even after a few sessions of this I remembered how to play again. I think it's that it must be played loudly and supported with lots of air to be played at all that it works so well for this purpose!

It should be called the Harvest Warmup Concerto.

best of all the solo part is FREE on the composer's site:

http://www.ostimusic.com/images/SoloTrombone.pdf