Recovering trombone chops after a week-long layoff

Last week, I took time off to visit my oldest son. I didn’t take my trombone since this was focused time eating, drinking, bonding, and hiking the vast canyons of southern Arizona. Besides, after one ten mile hike through rivers and dense vegitation, and then another eight mile hike with real elevation, I was neither in the mood nor shape to practice.

Just befopre leaving I sent out my weekly newsletter letting subscribers know that I would be gone for a while. One reader replied, asking if I would share what I do to get back into playing shape. While I don’t think I have anything innovative to say on the topic, I will share what I’ve done to get back into shape.

Let me also preface this by saying that each of us start from different levels of strength, shape, and physiology. So what works for me may not work for you or fit your lifestyle (that felt like a pharma disclaimer!).

1. I begin playing as soon after I arrive back home as possible  in order to stop the atrophy from building further. For me that starts with light mouthpiece buzzing.
2. Getting back to the horn follows the same progression as daily warmups: start with the least resistance (mouthpiece buzzing) then attach only the slide portion, then add the bell. In this case each of those stages lasted much longer than they would in a normal daily warmup. 
3. Start slow, soft, and low. I like to start in the low register which, again, returns to that concept of starting with less resistance. You won’t hear me belting out high C’s once I unpack!
4. Rest is a very important component of building back my chops. Much shorter periods of playing and much longer periods of rest in-between. The muscles need time to recover from stress they have not been used to for a week.
5. Last is getting back outside. I do not like practicing indoors. I find it stiffling and the reflections mask my sound and prevent full engagement (I’m not talking about large rooms or halls). My normal practice space is outside, either in the desert near my home or in the mountains when I frequently travel to parts up north. The benefit of this is 1. I can benchmark my sound, stamina, and technique to what I’m used to, and 2. I get back to the “void” of the great outdoors where I must project in order to full the space. That forces more effort for volume, articulation, and tone.

Maintaining a daily regimen is also important. You can’t get back, practice for a 30 minutes, then get the horn out two days later, skip a day, etc. Consistency help protect from losing more. As most any brass player will tell you, the longer and more inconsistent your time off, the harder it is to return to playing shape.

I’m back to my full chops. Summer in Phoenix shuts down many of the playing venues and gigs, so the real test will be my next big band or combo gig. But I think I’ll be ready!

In the meantime, here’s one of my outdoor practice spots: