2 practices = much work

OK, I just practiced again for about 35 minutes. Here's a thought about two practices a day. I worked very hard in my earlier practice, oh, for about an hour. Tonight I did a nice long warm-up and just plain got tired of working hard on my material again. But it's not a lazy tired. My class has begun for the semester and it requires a lot of work. I have a demanding job, made even more demanding this week by hard travel and by complications due to the hiring freeze. I just need a certain amount of down time when I'm not working hard, and when I am working on material like this for the upcoming concert, I am working hard.

Two practices a day are a great idea. Doing it moves my playing ability forward significantly. I think, though, that my goal might need to be for one of the practices to be easy - warmup, scales, one exercise maybe. I got too exhausted last fall. Granted, there was a lot more material to work on, but still, much as I want to play better, I have to balance.

Most excellent, and mechanical too

I did just what I'd stated as my goal, practiced my "tricky licks" in the Shostakovich - all of the movements. Before I started, I messed around and installed my new "bullet brace," the intent of which is to take some of the weight of the instrument off my finger and put it in the crook between thumb and forefinger (to cause less or even no pain).

Several immediate effects. Right away, as in the first note I played, my sound was much fuller. I have observed recently that although you are not supposed to, and I did not think I was doing, I have been supporting the instrument to some degree with my slide hand. No, no, no. Not supposed to do that, and I think by not doing that my sound just got bigger. Enough that I was startled.

Second effect is that the slide is moving much more freely. This was so nice that I stopped and cleaned my slide to enjoy the full effects.

Third effect is that there is new pain around the base of my thumb, but my jury is way out on that one, let me have some time with this adjustment.

I was also contemplating today how fun it is be a musician and get to say things like, "playing a gig" and "tricky licks."

work work work

I made it very nearly through all the Shostakovich with headphones on. Just didn't quite get through the very end of the 4th movement. That is where I need most of my work. I have circled 4 parts in the 4th movement that I need to work on.

So, tomorrow in my morning practice, I want to work on these parts first, without the headphones, so I feel less rushed. And then, in my afternoon/evening practice, I'll work again with the headphones.

I practiced for more than an hour tonight and working with the headphones on is quite draining. Good work, though, good work.

Dixieland!

We played Dixieland music at Big Blue this morning and that was the most fun, not to mention quite the good embouchure workout. So my morning practice was swinging on Dixieland jazz, and my evening practice will be a good warmup and Shostie Shostie Shostie.

I am telling all my friends about this concert because I am so thrilled about this music. I do believe this might be my favorite music I have ever played. There is just something about the way that man put notes together. I don't know how he did it, but the result knocks my socks off every time I play it.

Oh, and by the way, I passed my 3-year anniversary on the trombone while I was flying around Alaska, on January 28.

Only a warmup

All I worked on tonight was a nice long warmup. I worked with Michael Davis' 15 minute warmup but probably spent about a half hour on it, mmm, at least 30 minutes. I hit 9:00 so stopped practicing, but the short time was OK as I am just plain tired. When I get another good night's sleep tonight, I'll be Ms. Perky Trombonist again. :)

Goal for the weekend: Practice twice a day. Play all tricky licks in the Shostakovich each day. Actually, play everything in the Shostakovich each day and practice the tricky licks repeatedly each day. Play with the CD. Play loud. Strong. My poor neighbors.

the longest day

For the last two days of travel, I just buzzed the mouthpiece. Tonight, we rehearsed and I did not play as well as I would have liked, but OK, considering. I got three hours of sleep last night as my homeward bound flight ended up in Sitka; I worked from 10 until 6 - hard - so was a little used up by rehearsal time.

I will practice with the CDs and I think we may have a sectional. I'm eager to work hard on the material until Tuesday's rehearsal. I am eager to see my progress.

Because I was in Fairbanks Tuesday night (30 degrees below zero!), I missed Tuesday's rehearsal, so tonight was my first one on this material with Kyle conducting. It was just grand.

My matrix

This is the matrix I made, with the pieces I am working on on the y axis, and time on the x axis. I love the pattern the little x's make, sprinkled about on the page. Ooh, if you click on the picture, you can see in detail what I've been doing!