by Amelia S. Weller
Summer is here, and you may be wondering, “How can I best use my time?” If a performance season or school year is over, there is time for both work and play—but how do you manage these? Whether you are a seasoned pro or an eager student, balancing summer activities while maximizing the time to pursue the results you seek requires a little thought.
Maintenance vs. Improvement
In a nutshell, maintenance is staying ready while improvement is getting better. Maintenance of a practice routine requires evaluating the various facets of your playing to determine what is efficient, what needs some gentle care, and what may need to be completely reworked. Improvement cannot happen without maintenance, but it involves the concerted effort to add skill sets (extend range, increase technical facility, etc.). Understanding the difference in goals will help you be intentional in your approach.
- Include a warm-up that supports your goals.
- Vary routines to avoid potential muscle fatigue or playing without concentrating.
- Record yourself to reflect on your progress.
- Consult colleagues or teachers with any concerns (embouchure change, injury, time off, technique in extreme ranges, etc.).
Consistent vs. Sporadic Use of Time
Heading into the summer, you may be feeling exhausted by the demands of your playing season. Enjoy some rest, but then create a consistent summer schedule for yourself that allows a helpful regimen. Create a regular, goal-oriented practice schedule that is freeing and exciting. If the work feels stressful or daunting, or if you find yourself feeling guilty for not being able to keep up, it can lead to sporadic practice, an avoidance of practice, or a lack of focus and productivity.
- Create a sustainable schedule appropriate to other demands (work, family time, etc.) and considerate of your own strengths.
- Create an achievable list of playing goals, and give yourself things to look forward to during practice.
- Explore new repertoire, start a new fundamentals routine, work on new etudes or improve old ones, etc.
- Schedule days off for yourself, and allow yourself grace both when taking a break and when re-starting.
How to Come Back After a Hiatus
There are reasons for taking a break, and in my experience, some of these are not necessarily a choice. If you find yourself entering or returning from a playing hiatus this summer, here are some things to keep in mind.
- Gradually add time to your practice. Begin at 15-30 minutes and slowly add time every few days. It is not healthy or realistic to attempt lengthy practice times.
- Utilize low-impact/low-stress exercises such as long tones, chromatic exercises, slurred passages, etc. Avoid extremes of range. Play softer long tone or chromatic patterns with a mute in for 5-10 minutes. The medium resistance offered by the mute is like the gym equivalent of warming up with a resistance band—good for both muscles and health!
Finally, practice affirmations of your playing. Why do you love your instrument? Why do you love music? What brings you joy or pride about your playing? Coming back from a break can be discouraging, and it can be easy to be impatient and overly self-critical. By practicing positive self-talk and by affirming your musical identity, you can approach each practice time with a growth mindset and a greater sense of thankfulness that you are back pursuing what feeds your passion.
Travel
There is no law declaring that you must take your horn with you on vacation. That choice is yours to make. The guideline is how the available time may or may not interrupt playing commitments. Players know their requirements, but here are some thoughts to consider:
- If you go on vacation for one week each year, it is perfectly reasonable to enjoy your travel “horn free.” You have 51 other weeks to be playing your horn.
- Taking a mouthpiece or visualizer is a great way to enjoy low-stress maintenance while still enjoying your vacation.
- Listen to professional models or upcoming repertoire. Listening is a different form of practice, but it is still highly beneficial to musicianship.
Let this summer be a time of rest and recreation. Do what you love, and love what you do. The time is yours for the making, so use it for good.
