[TPIN] Daily practice vs skipping days

[Orion Development Corp - D. Arndt]

Both are important, in my opinion.  You do need routine, but it's also good 
to take a day off regularly.  I try to *not* play at least one day a week 
(but everyone's different) - or limit that day to just a brief warm up, put 
it back in the box and watch a ballgame.

One things I've noticed as i've gotten older and also being a 'come back' 
player of sorts (I'm 52, and was off the horn completely for about 18-19 
years, until a 3 years ago):  It helps me to think of my "routine" in terms 
of 3 days or a week - not individual days.  In other words, I don't see a 
need to cover "everything" in my practicing every single day.  So for 
*example*, I'll only practice upper register (to the extent that I'm really 
working it out) every 3rd or 4th day.   And... on days when i do that, I 
generally practice less overall, because I know it's a bit more taxing.  

It also helps me to have "free, flowing and relaxed" as part of the goal of 
my daily practice.  

One of the hardest things to do - especially if you really love to play - is 
to know when to STOP practicing (at least for me), so you're maintaining and 
building the "machine" (to steal from Clarke), rather than tearing it down. 

I find that taking a day off here and there is a good gauge for how relaxed 
and natural my approach is.

- da



On Mon, 4 Feb 2008 08:08:36 -0700, Greg Potzer wrote
> This question has bugged me enough, so I venture out there...I am an 
> amateur player (for many years) and have felt like when I deviate 
> from practicing every day and, instead, skip a day and rest, I not 
> only don't seem to lose anything performance wise, but even seem to 
> sound better and accomplish more!  I have lifted weights much of my 
> adult life (got hooked much like some of John Irving's unusual 
> characters) and understand the principal of resting a day between 
> workouts/muscle groups, etc.  Is there any possibility that those 
> principals might have merit and similar effect on lips/chops and 
> trumpet play?  Know perhaps a strange question, but just wondering 
> if anyone experiences the same?  Thanks, Greg 
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