 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-09-18 18:00
due to an illness i was unable to play almost all summer. I am now getting back on my feet and I have lost a lot of ground. I thought once I started getting back into it, it would come back pretty quickly, but it isnt. mainly my emboucure is weak, and my left hand shakes slightly from medication side-effects. needing some encouragement and ideas how to get back into the swing of things faster. I am in a clarinet ensemble and I need to get back into shape quick.
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Author: William
Date: 2010-09-18 18:53
As quickly as possible: 1) turn off computor 2) find you instrument 3) open case and assemble 3) start to play--anything!!!!!!!--for as long as you embouchure (or neighbor's, pets, etc) can take 4)repeat newly reestablished practice schedule over and over, and over, and over.......get the picture...(??)
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-09-18 19:28
william you make it seem like im sitting here at the computer instead of practicing which is not the case. your reply is a bit smart alec.i came here after practicing until I couldnt anymore and was feeling discouraged. thanks.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2010-09-18 19:45
Janlynn,
you can't pull at the grass in order to make it grow faster. I fear there's really no fast way for reaching your former shape other than with practicing, pausing, practicing, pausing. But I think the "first half" uphill is worse than the second half. Even when you think you're not progressing, you're still doing, and all of a sudden you will make a quantum leap or reach an important personal milestone.
Whatever you do, don't torture yourself, it is supposed to be fun! Don't deprive yourself of this joy by trying just too hard.
--
Ben
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2010-09-18 20:19
Think of all the musicians who fought in the World Wars Janlynn, and who eventually returned to their former greatness. I wouldn't imagine that it happened overnight for them either.
As you begin to rebuild you may have to dial down your expectations of success to something more modest which will allow you the time to get back into your old playing shape.
Perhaps an opportunity to change your warm up as well? I would recommend very carefully staged practice regimen: 15 minutes on, five off, or something like it.
You can do it! Good luck!
James Tobin
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2010-09-18 20:43
I tend to have a different opinion here. First off I hope you are feeling a lot better. I'm sure you must be discouraged being sick for so long, added to not being able to practice.
For now divide your practice time into 3, 10 minute sessions for the first few days. Then every few days add another 5 minutes. Within 2 to3 weeks at the most, you will be ready to play somewhere between 45 minutes to an hour, with perhaps a 5 minute break to rest your brain. I've always practiced for 30 minutes then take a 5 minute break because for me I sort of get a brain far#! I actually put in about 4 to 5 hours of practice a day and I have been doing this since 1972.
When you first start to practice for 10 minutes use this time to play long tones, at first maybe only 3 minutes then build up to 10 minutes. Then during the first 10 minutes play some scales slowly. Try to repeat this when you have a few minutes to play another 10 minutes. The last 10 minutes should be for fun, playing whatever you would like to do.
I promise, within 2 to 3 weeks you will be able to play as long as you wish, without any muscle issues. The idea of playing scales is for your left hand to stop shaking.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2010-09-18 20:47)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2010-09-18 22:44
Don't sweat it. Make sure you keep in mind that you WILL get back there. It won't be overnight, but it DOES come back. This is coming from someone who went through two deployments and spent probably about a month to two months each time (there AND back) without an instrument cause it was packed in transportation and on a ship going across the ocean.
It comes back.
Just practice, and practice slowly, and get back into it. For me personally, and maybe you find this too, it's not the finger technique that is lost, it's the muscles for the embouchure, you get tired quicker while playing, and getting tongue speed up and matched with the fingers is gonna take a little working on.
But it comes back, and it doesn't take as long as you would dread to get back there. Just practice slowly, and don't try to get RIGHT back to where you were before you stopped. You'll get there. Don't know how long, but for me, it took maybe a month. I just got really frustrated cause I sounded like crap and my embouchure would tire VERY quickly. But I kept at it and it came back.
Alexi
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