tinny

Last night in my lesson the horn sounded tinny enough that Jack commented on it, and it did again today while I was practicing. I took the brace off, examined every possible moving part ... I think it is me but I don't know why.

I only practiced for about 45 minutes as I hit my 9 pm shut-off time. That was OK, though, it was about the right amount of practice. I had some trouble with my G in the Beethoven, but I don't want to try too hard every day. I worked a lot on the Lament movement of the Sinfionetta, working over and over again the mute change ... and I think I may be able to pull that off! It was exciting to do it enough that I am starting to feel comfortable with it.

From my trombone lesson yesterday: I need to start doing my pedal exercise (where I go down by partials to the pedal) LOUDLY. It will get my lips more exercise - and I need to be able to play more loudly than I can now. I should start playing my scales with the tuner - which I did tonight, playing slow scales, finding the note first and then looking at the tuner to calibrate myself better. I surprised myself at how often I was sharp or flat when I thought I was right on.

The work on the Beethoven was not long but it was good practice. I am really coming along with those runs.

I have to go to San Francisco for work next week, for the last two rehearsals before our performance. I find it very strange to wish I did not have to go to San Francisco, but the timing is not good. I was strategizing with Rick about whether I should take my mouthpiece and he suggested taking the trombone, and that the Harmon mute without the stem will make a great mute in the hotel room ... so I tried it tonight and it does make a good practice mute. Perfect.