Well, I honestly don't think I have ever left a rehearsal this frustrated with myself. It's the week of our concert, and of course I can't play in tune to save my life.
I try not to let frustration get the best of me in rehearsals, but today there was nothing I could do about it. My frustration level was at its highest. I couldn't play a single note in tune.
There is only one thing more embarrassing than not being able to play something (the melody!) you've worked really hard on in front of the whole band, and that's not playing in tune-at all. Why today? Why me? Why on the day when I'll be playing for 5 out of 7 hours in the evening? Why?
Nothing was clicking...everything was running together...It sounded like I hadn't practiced the music, but in reality I've spent a lot of time on the music. I was honestly embarrassed and wanted to leave the rehearsal. I felt like I was not only embarrassing myself, but my entire section and studio.
So, since that rehearsal didn't go so hot, I now have to focus even more for my next two rehearsals of the evening. I must learn from the first rehearsal and move on..or as the song says: "let it go!"
When you have a bad rehearsal, don't look back. Move forward and work even harder. Push yourself to be the best that you can be. Don't let anything stop you.
Now I'm going to go spend some time with my tuner....
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Why am I here so late?
Posting this a little after the fact....
Why am I here so late? This question was asked to me tonight by a fellow music student.
I gave them a shocked reaction. Why wouldn't I be here at night? First of all, it's only 8pm....second of all, I am a music major-I have to practice.
Yes, I have had two rehearsals today. Yes, I have already practiced once today. And yes, I am practicing again.
As a trumpet player, I believe that it is important to have more than one practice session a day. I believe that having multiple practice sessions a day is better for a brass player, rather than having a practice session that lasts for 2 or more hours. I think that by having more than one practice session, it keeps your health in check- both physically and mentally. If you play for too long, you can ruin the muscles in your face that are required to play a brass instrument. Mentally, focusing for two hours can be very difficult..and trying to switch between all of your assignments can be very taxing and difficult.
Some people practice for like 20 minutes a day and never have major issues...and then there's me who practices for a couple of hours a day(usually) and has lots of issues...
I am here again because I wasn't satisfied with my first practice session...yes, I put a lot of work in, but the result wasn't that great. Demand excellence...or you won't get results. Hopefully this practice session will be successful. If it's not, then tomorrow I will push myself harder.
Why am I here so late? This question was asked to me tonight by a fellow music student.
I gave them a shocked reaction. Why wouldn't I be here at night? First of all, it's only 8pm....second of all, I am a music major-I have to practice.
Yes, I have had two rehearsals today. Yes, I have already practiced once today. And yes, I am practicing again.
As a trumpet player, I believe that it is important to have more than one practice session a day. I believe that having multiple practice sessions a day is better for a brass player, rather than having a practice session that lasts for 2 or more hours. I think that by having more than one practice session, it keeps your health in check- both physically and mentally. If you play for too long, you can ruin the muscles in your face that are required to play a brass instrument. Mentally, focusing for two hours can be very difficult..and trying to switch between all of your assignments can be very taxing and difficult.
Some people practice for like 20 minutes a day and never have major issues...and then there's me who practices for a couple of hours a day(usually) and has lots of issues...
I am here again because I wasn't satisfied with my first practice session...yes, I put a lot of work in, but the result wasn't that great. Demand excellence...or you won't get results. Hopefully this practice session will be successful. If it's not, then tomorrow I will push myself harder.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Time to crack the whip!
So, some things are harder for some people than others. For me, multiple tonguing is a great challenge.
When I was in 7th grade, I could double tongue without thinking about it, play a high C on a daily basis, and play parts of the Haydn Trumpet Concerto....but then things changed when I got braces.
Truthfully, having braces should have only pushed me to work harder, but I let it be an excuse to not practice and work on the things that needed to be done. As a sophomore in high school, I got my braces off. I had to learn how to play again...which was definitely a process.
Now, as a freshman in college, I find my self struggling with multiple tonguing, range, and volume. Why are these things an issue? Simply because in the past, I chose not to practice them, even when my private teachers told me to, and I knew I needed to.
Since coming to college, almost everyday I am reminded of my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to my playing. This semester, I have to work on these things everyday, no matter what! I can't put them off any longer.
Throughout high school, my private teacher would tell me that if I didn't work on these things, I wouldn't be able to play a lot of music. But I never believed him. Almost every lesson, he would remind me that these were the only things holding me back from playing any music I wanted to. But yet I never practiced these things.
Now, as I'm off at college, I know he is right. I should have listened to him and worked on these things. But I chose not to. So now its time to CRACK THE WHIP! I have no choice but to practice these things. If I choose not to, I am not going to get better, and I won't be able to play most of the music I dream of playing.
Starting today, February 3rd, 2015, I am promising to practice these things everyday. I am not practicing these things because other people are telling me to. I am practicing these things because I want to become a better musician. I want to be the best trumpet player that I can possibly be!
When I was in 7th grade, I could double tongue without thinking about it, play a high C on a daily basis, and play parts of the Haydn Trumpet Concerto....but then things changed when I got braces.
Truthfully, having braces should have only pushed me to work harder, but I let it be an excuse to not practice and work on the things that needed to be done. As a sophomore in high school, I got my braces off. I had to learn how to play again...which was definitely a process.
Now, as a freshman in college, I find my self struggling with multiple tonguing, range, and volume. Why are these things an issue? Simply because in the past, I chose not to practice them, even when my private teachers told me to, and I knew I needed to.
Since coming to college, almost everyday I am reminded of my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to my playing. This semester, I have to work on these things everyday, no matter what! I can't put them off any longer.
Throughout high school, my private teacher would tell me that if I didn't work on these things, I wouldn't be able to play a lot of music. But I never believed him. Almost every lesson, he would remind me that these were the only things holding me back from playing any music I wanted to. But yet I never practiced these things.
Now, as I'm off at college, I know he is right. I should have listened to him and worked on these things. But I chose not to. So now its time to CRACK THE WHIP! I have no choice but to practice these things. If I choose not to, I am not going to get better, and I won't be able to play most of the music I dream of playing.
Starting today, February 3rd, 2015, I am promising to practice these things everyday. I am not practicing these things because other people are telling me to. I am practicing these things because I want to become a better musician. I want to be the best trumpet player that I can possibly be!
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