[TPIN] Advice for practice?

[Keith Reynolds]

  I would someday like to play in a professional orchestra
> or teach at a university for a living. I currently only practice at most 3
> hours a week, . . .

  Anyone know of anyways to make yourself get in the
> practice room...and how to make that time worth while. 


I want to do this gently and I'm not sure I know how, so please forgive 
me if any of this is too blunt.

I practiced 5 hours a day in college and carried about 27 credit hours. 
  The way I did it was to arrive at school way before my first class and 
stay until midnight.  Now this is really important - I'm nothing special 
in the working hard department - lot's of players worked much harder.

You would like to audition against players who would blow me away while 
practicing less in a week than they do in a day?  You are asking for 
major disappointment.

It is clear from your post that you are not a music major.  If your life 
goals are really to play in a professional orchestra or teach at a 
university (music, I assume) maybe the first thing you should consider 
is changing your major.

If you are really committed to the trumpet, the next thing (make that 
first thing - like tomorrow) I would recommend is a private teacher so 
you can get on an organized daily practice routine.  There is an 
incredible amount of time required just on the basics, but I love your 
question as to how to make that time worthwhile - always play musically, 
even when you're doing technical studies.

Good luck, you have chosen a hard road.

All the best,
Keith Reynolds