Yet Another “Deadly Sin” of Horn Playing

Another post from the archive, originally posted to the Horn Notes Blog on 1/9/06.

A year ago I wrote of how I had enjoyed a presentation I had seen in 2003 by Larry Lowe on the “Seven Deadly Sins” of horn playing.

Speaking to him this past weekend at the horn workshop at the University of California at Santa Barbara, he has come up with yet another deadly sin! This sin involves “getting my chops back into shape.” Don’t let this become a habit; this is a deadly sin.

I had to miss hearing his presentation this time around but talking with him the evening before the presentation and reflecting on what he said, he has hit the nail on the head again. Sure, if you are a busy professional and take a week or two off to take your wife on a cruise to the Bahamas or go on a family vacation, take the time off and get back into shape afterwards. Or, if you are very ill and just can’t play, rest, get better, and get back into shape afterwards. But “I’m getting my chops back into shape” should be something that you never find yourself saying to anyone more than a couple times a year. Some players seem to always be “getting back into shape,” and making this a habit will pretty much end your career. People will begin to see through the excuse and will begin to doubt that you are capable of playing on a high level. Which may seem harsh, but with the inconsistent practice underlying the situation it is in fact likely that you will never play on a high level again if you once did.

For students it is especially important to practice daily and always be in shape. Never let a day go by that you don’t practice. I remember distinctly the first day I took off after I had finished up my MM at Eastman, having not taken a single day off since sometime in high school–Christmas, 1987. Thinking about it now, I can’t remember exactly the last time I took a day off but it was probably sometime when I was sick last spring. Even after driving 12 hours cross country I will practice at least 1/2  hour on the horn with a mute late at night.

Try to always stay in shape. This may sound really hard core, but to make it to a high level on the horn and to maintain and even improve that level, this is the level of commitment it takes.

UPDATE: Still more deadly sins from Larry Lowe may be found here.