Excellent Post!bloke wrote:The linked story is about work (where a tuba is obviously required), but I would also encourage serious students/professionals to leave their tubas behind when flying to ~vacation~ destinations for 1-2-3 weeks.
If there is a fear of "lack of practicing" involved, that's all the more reason to leave the tuba behind.
I will make this guarantee to any/all: You will ~not~ forget how to play the tuba, and (particularly if you are one who practices several hours each day) the break will prove to be very beneficial...much like (after months of not) turning a computer off, and restarting it. Finally, if constant/very-very heavy/daily practice is the only way that a person is able to maintain their basic functionality as an instrumentalist, there may (??) be something(s) wrong going on.
I just returned to playing after a 10 day break and was pleased to find that my playing had not deteriorated at all. In fact, I was able to play several excerpts very well which had been "trouble" before I left! I used to believe that heavy practice was the only way to go about this, however now I know as I age, that less is more.