Balanced Practice

[mr_guilbeau]

Hey, folks! I am experiencing a strange rut with my practice time. There's a practice clash with family, life, lessons, ensembles, GA duties, and other usual obstacles that I have not struggled with until recently. I can typically get my fundamentals covered in the morning, but struggle beyond that. I feel like I may be spending too much time on fundies and losing time on music development/preparation. Not to say that anything is going down the drain, but certainly notice a balance deficiency. Getting some good help from my teacher, just curious as to what you all might have to say about balancing your practice time. Any routine tips or structural techniques that have helped you with these problems? Thanks!

[Dayton]

This is something that many players struggle with at one point or another. Think of this from the perspective of risk management. Take an honest assessment of your fundamental skills and your playing needs. I'd suggest three basic categories: (1) What do you need to develop further to meet your needs, (2) what is adequate for your needs, and (3) what may exceed your needs.

Spend the most practice time on what you need to develop, and the least time on what you currently have in excess. Ryan Beach has an approach that might be useful to you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqF4FQavxtE

You also need to be really disciplined about knowing when to stop. You could practice fundamentals for 8 hours per day and still not be "perfect" at anything. If you have two hours available and a lot of new music to learn then you need to spend less time on fundamentals and more on the music. You decide what the ratio is based on your needs.

Finally, don't forget that you can incorporate the music you need to learn into your fundamentals. Multiple tonguing is an easy example. If you are working on, say, the Morales Concerto, use that as your triple tonguing exercise for the day.

Good luck!

[JayKosta]

[Richard III]

I avoid these discussions because I don't get the fundamental love once you get beyond beginner. I would think an adult player would know what they need to work on and pretty much design their own exercises. And then beyond that, why do basic stuff at all. My music stand is filled with pieces that emphasize all ranges, techniques and pretty much everything I play. Most of them are free as public domain and are cornet solos from the late 1800's and early 1900's. Others are test pieces for different levels of education. Still others are modern solos done by famous soloists that had them written for them as showcases for the horn.

All of them are music. So why play boring stuff?
_________________
Richard

King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece

[Billy B]

2/3 fundamentals

1/3 music
_________________
Bill Bergren

[mafields627]

[abontrumpet]

[Andy Del]

[PH]

In pre-professional years, the balanced life is a fiction for most successful trumpet players. Fit in what you can after you spend 10-12 hours 7 days a week working on your playing. Or choose a different career focus.
_________________
Bach trumpet artist-clinician
Clinical Professor of Jazz Trumpet, University of Illinois
Professor Emeritus of Jazz Studies, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Faculty Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshops 1976-2019
JazzRetreats.com

[Andy Cooper]

Let's look at the big picture first. Your life has become more complex and you don't have the tools in place to handle things comfortably.

Either paper or computerized - schedules and check lists of all things you need to do - not just music related - and the estimated required times.

1. You might benefit from some sort of simplified Gantt Chart
http://tutorials.istudy.psu.edu/ganttcharts/ganttcharts_print.html
Rather than going over to the business or technology schools to see how these work - wander over to your university's theater department.

2. A bit smaller picture - a weekly planner.
3. Even smaller - daily check lists.
4. You would then be in a position to look at your specific instrumental practice needs.
a. Figure out how to use small "chunks" of time dispersed with other activities.
b. Devise a rotation for your various technical studies. Everything does not have to be done every day.

You get the idea.

Do you have to be this organized all of the time. No. But when you get overwhelmed - this can be helpful.

[rdpyle]

[mr_guilbeau]

[mr_guilbeau]

[mr_guilbeau]

[Richard III]

[mr_guilbeau]

[Billy B]

[deleted_user_587aaec]

Goodbye.

~ R

[Richard III]

I forgot, there is one more thing I do. I listen to music a lot while doing other things. So when I pick up the horn, what often comes out is variations of what I've been listening to. It's all jazz, but you get the idea. So if I had a limited time to practice, that may be all I do. I've done warm ups before playing with a group and get asked, "What song is that?" Usually its just variations on common songs and just stuff that flows out from all the listening. I have to tell them I have no idea, I just made it up. I'm guessing the OP is more classical oriented, so would this approach happen with those types?
_________________
Richard

King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece

[Billy B]