Claude Gordon SA and Travel

[Blue Devil]

Does anyone have any thoughts on how to handle times when out of town travel is a must (either for vacation or for work) while practicing out of the SA book? Ideally, bringing the horn with or wothout a practice mute on a trip and not missing any time in the SA "schedule" is the best choice, but obviously that is not always going to be possible. Probably the next best thing would be to do at least some buzzing with or without a mouthpiece while traveling, but sometimes that's not even an option due to funny looks etc. by non-trumpet playing loved ones, family members, or co-workers.

Since SA is designed to build upon each lesson, I always feel that if I miss even only a couple of days with no playing or buzzing at all I have taken several steps backwards.

Any thoughts on what can be done to minimize the effect of missing time in SA, either while traveling or once you get home?

[John Mohan]

Take your horn with. The part 1 and part 2 exercises take a total of about 25 - 30 minutes to complete. Anyone can find that much time in a 24 hour day. Sometimes I end up doing them on my way home from the theater in a parking lot in my car if I have to.

No practice mutes allowed! That's like developing and playing on a different instrument!

John Mohan