Should I take a day off after intense playing?

SoFloTrumpGuy · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:31 pm Post subject: rest

In my opinion, I am hearing some misinformation. My advice is to REST. If you have the time and your lip is very swollen and becoming stiff you should rest, even up to 2 days and if necessary more. It really depends how you feel, the lip is a very sensitive muscle that can easily be injured if worked to hard with improper form. If you played 8-10 hours a day then you should be very strong after a couple days off. Definitely take Ibuprofen at night or when not playing to reduce the swelling however I dont like to play the horn on Ibuprofen because it thins my lip too much. Use Ice for a few minutes and then Hot water. Using some soap Massage your upper lip gently under a hot shower. These things should help! And you should end up Stronger if you in tune to your healing process.

Too avoid massive swelling in the future try to learn to play Softer and more controlled. Especially if you are not playing a performance bring it back 10%-15%. Dont waste yourself for a Rehearsal. and WARM DOWN with some soft playing that brings your aperture back together. Also when practicing employ some lip bends to help bring some flexibility back

giakara · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 6:20 am Post subject:

I just play some long tones and pedals and try to avoid every note above the stuff but i try to not let the day pass without open my case

.

Regards
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gcelestre · New Member Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Posts: 1

It really depends if you've got a gig the next day. Rest will do you good, (think of the lip as a muscle, and you've worked it hard), but there are things you can do to get back to yourself.

1. simple mouthpiece buzzes (lower tones)
2. long (low) tones - relaxed, several for short durations, getting longer

Every once in a while I get a church gig, and the lead book goes up consistently to high F#'s and G#'s (why...I'll never figure out...), and these are services that are early in the morning...when I'm typically snoozing, so I go through this type of ritual just to get the blood flowing.

worldendparty · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 7:20 pm Post subject:

Thank you for all of the great advice. Just wanted to give an update. Since my last post in August I have taken occassional days off usually around once a week the first few months and now less frequently. I have also been splitting some lower lead parts and laying out during unison parts. Since then i have seen significant improvements in the endurance, consistancy, and strength in my high register playing. Now we are running 2 and a half hour rehearsals mon-fri. A couple times a week we have a 40 minute gig after the rehearsals or on weekends. Otherwise I will practice an hour or so on the weekends if not taking a day off. Startin to find a groove.
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jhopkins7 · Regular Member Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 57 Location: SC

The old saying goes "Discretion is the better part of valor"....or something like that. Anyway, sounds like you are on the right track. We all find our groove (to use your phrase). Some of us enjoy and benefit from a day of no playing...some of us don't. Part of the journey is finding what what works for you both your physiological and psychological makeup. I'd just say that 8 to 10 hours of my lead playing would leave me demolished, and probably leave anyone in the ensemble pretty disappointed

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trumanjazzguy · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 9:29 pm Post subject:

If ice is to be used, be sure the source of the cooling isn't directly in contact with the lip tissue. Use a towel, or something. I (stupidly) applied ice directly to my chops for a few days at one point in my playing. DON'T DO THAT...unless you want your lips to split open, like mine did one evening. A tiny parenthesis shaped crack, right in the middle of my chops...don't really know if that permanantly changed anything, do know I won't ice directly to my chops EVER again!

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