I truly and honestly believe that everyone in the studio is learning and growing through all of this focus on practice, but with growing comes growing pains. I've been seeing (and hearing about) burnout, so now seems like a good time for me to ruminate on hard work in general, and practice in particular.
First, a few quotes/sayings about hard work:
"You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do."
-Henry Ford
"Things may come to those who wait... but only the things left by those who hustle."
-Abraham Lincoln
"The only place 'success' comes before 'work' is in the dictionary."
These things are all true, and I'll wager you've heard at least one of them before. Hard work is important. It builds character. It increases skill. It's also hard.
"It's hard" is my least favorite excuse for not doing something. Where would the world be if everyone only did things that were easy?
There are a few things about hard work as related to practicing a musical instrument that are important to consider:
Improvement is neither fast, nor linear. Sometimes improvement will come quickly, sometimes, it will come slowly, and occasionally it will come not at all. In many cases getting better at the tuba, trombone or euphonium includes the breaking of old, bad playing habits. These are called habits for a reason; they are a part of one's learned (and ingrained) behavior and can reappear from time to time. This will happen less frequently as the new, better habits replace the old. Our quality as musicians depends not on our willingness to practice when everything is going well, but rather on our ability to persevere when the going is toughest.
Practicing in itself is a difficult skill to master. There are right and wrong ways to practice. This begins with finding when to practice. Practice requires a rested, healthy body and an alert, focused mind. Do not practice when you are exhausted, starving, angry or depressed. Take frequent breaks. Be sure to spend adequate time on fundamentals, and be sure to maintain a high standard for yourself as you work. Don't settle for a product that is below your potential. Be sure to find enough time in smaller chunks; cramming is not possible and will only frustrate you.
Recognize "burnout," and combat it. It is possible to practice too much on one thing. Beating your head against a wall can make practice frustrating, and you get burned out. Sometimes walking away from the horn is a good solution, but it's another bad habit to get into when you take a big chunk of time off whenever you get a little frustrated. Remember, practicing is hard. Don't confuse being tired and a little frustrated with serious burnout. When you need a mental break, put your "work music" away and play something fun. I Like to play big, loud orchestral excerpts with a recording to get my mind back in the right place. Maybe do a little improv, dig out an old tune you play well and like to play, or rock out the melody or bass line to your favorite tune. Remember, burnout is mental, you still need face time on the horn, but take the stress out of the equation. Consider an extended break as a last resort.
Have Fun! Remember, we are very blessed to be able to pursue music as a career; we get to do something we love and get a check every week for it (someday, students, someday). Having a career doing something you love is not a right, it's a privilege. It must be earned through hard work. When I need to be reminded of this, I think of my father. He worked his whole life doing something he hates so I could have the opportunity to pursue the career of my choosing. I'm thankful for that, and I won't let his sacrifice go to waste by slacking off. You'd have to work just as hard flipping burgers, at least music is something you love.
More to come later...
-J
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