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tofu wrote:This doesn't quite apply to me yet but I think a lot of older players would be interested on how to counter the effects of aging to continue performing at your best. I uses to attend Arnold Jacobs masterclasses during the summer at NU and he used to occasionally talk about the effects of aging and playing.

Hmmm. Applies to me. Anyone have any links to articles on this topic?

For us older players, what effect is aging having on your playing?

For me (at 59) it's more about the aches and pains. Tubas and bad backs seem to go together. I've developed an umbilical hernia I have to be careful with. And, of course, it's harder to see the music on the stand every year. OTOH I'm playing more now than at any previous point in my life. Better? Mostly.

Jim Wagner
"Age and treacher.... I mean experience over youth and enthusiasm."

did a great master class on aging at the Army Band Tuba Conference in 2004 which addresses many of the issues we encounter as we "mature" as players. Here's a link to it:
http://www.usarmyband.com/Broadcast/2004/01/

Be conservative in your mouthpiece selection as far as cup shape and throat size are concerned and get your embouchure working fairly efficiently and it will help with your air. Try to do some walking and light lifting to stay physically in shape. Also, on the inhalation, take two inhalations in a row, one as a loading breath and the 2nd as the top-off breath. This will help you to be sure you are getting enough air for the phrases. It's a trick I learned from a horn player a long time ago.

Roger

There was once a famous tuba player who said "Don't get old, you won't like it!"

Jim wrote:And, of course, it's harder to see the music on the stand every year.

I'm also 59. Seeing the music on the stand was frustrating for me wearing progressive bi-focals (the reading correction is narrow with changing levels). For music playing, I've switched to a straight bi-focal (executive type) where the line is higher than usual. I actually went to the Dr. with music and folding stand so he could write a script just for 3 or 4 feet away. This really helped me.

Wow! 59 seems to be the 'magic age'! I'll turn 60 in two weeks and I can honestly say that I am a stronger player now than ever. Yes... I've learned to manage my physical and mental resources better, but I think those are elements that should have been maximized from day one. We realize as we grow older that we really aren't invincible and that we should have listened to our mothers a little closer! Sorry, Mom.

Rick F wrote:

Jim wrote:And, of course, it's harder to see the music on the stand every year.

I'm also 59. Seeing the music on the stand was frustrating for me wearing progressive bi-focals (the reading correction is narrow with changing levels). For music playing, I've switched to a straight bi-focal (executive type) where the line is higher than usual. I actually went to the Dr. with music and folding stand so he could write a script just for 3 or 4 feet away. This really helped me.

I couldn't take the "line" any longer, as raising and lowering my head (especially when going from the bottom of page 1 to the top of page 2) would make me change my embouchure. I just switched to "half" lenses which are great!! I can see the entire page of music without moving my head up and down, and I can see the conductor (over the top) and he isn't blurry any more!

Rick F wrote:

Jim wrote:And, of course, it's harder to see the music on the stand every year.

I'm also 59. Seeing the music on the stand was frustrating for me wearing progressive bi-focals (the reading correction is narrow with changing levels). For music playing, I've switched to a straight bi-focal (executive type) where the line is higher than usual. I actually went to the Dr. with music and folding stand so he could write a script just for 3 or 4 feet away. This really helped me.

For me, it's music glasses. The conductor is a little fuzzy, it is true. It's only a problem when he uses a beige baton against a light tan shirt, with the background wall of the reshearsal room painted off-white. I keep promising to buy him a black baton. Maybe flourescent orange would be better--then he'd look like he was guiding an airliner to the gate.

Rick "who would rather have no glasses at all than bifocals when reading music" Denney

I do not remember the year but Gene Pokorny had done a masterclass on this topic that was simply outstanding! Even though I am in my 20's I still feel like I gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from his talks and concepts about age and playing. It would be worth looking up is there is a transcript on it.

Rick Denney wrote:For me, it's music glasses. The conductor is a little fuzzy, it is true.

That's what you get for looking up!!!

JayW wrote:I do not remember the year but Gene Pokorny had done a masterclass on this topic that was simply outstanding! Even though I am in my 20's I still feel like I gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from his talks and concepts about age and playing. It would be worth looking up is there is a transcript on it.

I believe the year was 2005. It was quite informative. For me, it was also reassuring.

I'm also 59. Seeing the music on the stand was frustrating for me

I'm only 56, but could'nt stand the frustration! My solution was monovision lenses. I has to twist the optometrist's arm to get him to write the prescription, but insisted.

3 days of wobbling while the brain adjusted but I can now see both the music and the conductor. Biggest unexpected bonus? I can once again clearly see steps when I walk down stairs! No more blurred steps through the bifocal lenses!

davet wrote:

I'm also 59. Seeing the music on the stand was frustrating for me

... My solution was monovision lenses. ...

YES!!! I was going to mention mono-vision in my earlier post but forgot (a REAL sign of getting older). I see the music with my left eye and the conductor with my right eye. I sometimes wear magnifiers when doing repair work, but for the most part I do just fine. I have a serious astigmatism and wear toric contact lenses.

Kind of reminds me of an old joke:

One Sunday during a racous church meeting, one of the ladies in the choir got to feeling the 'spirit' move her... and swung out over the congregation on a chandelier... with her skirt just a-flying. The pastor told his subjects that anyone who looked up would go blind. A fellow in the congregation said he would take a chance on his left eye... covering his right eye as he looked up.

wear toric contact lenses.

Lucky guy! I've tried every brand and can't find one that will ride right in my left eye, so have to do monovision with glasses.

When I turned 54 last summer, I had to start using reading glasses for the first time. I'd started using them at 51 for regular print, but had previously avoided needing them with music. Now I have a pair in every instrument case I have and in my accessory bag; low-strength dollar-store glasses work well enough for me, and I usually buy them 5 or 6 pairs at a time. Unless I'm in really bright light, I can't read normal sized music well, and march-size is impossible without them.

Other things that have changed with age: (1.) lower lung capacity, in large part from overweight (2.) less high range (3.) decline of sight-reading ability (4.) more difficulty carrying a 31-pound tuba 100 yards across a parking lot and up two flights of stairs (5.) infuriating tendency to lose counts during long rests because of increased distractability (6.) less tendency to be tolerant of others who misbehave during rehearsals (7.) MUCH less tendency to tolerate others who point out my misbehavior during rehearsals

JayW wrote:I do not remember the year but Gene Pokorny had done a masterclass on this topic that was simply outstanding!

This was a great master class. AND, is still available in the archives to listen to with QuickTime player. Here's the link:

"The Process of Turning Old"

Gene starts off playing the hymn, "Be Thou My Vision" in about 4 keys. After that (about 8 mins) it's about aging and playing. It's excellent!

GC wrote:(5.) infuriating tendency to lose counts during long rests because of increased distractability

What were we talking about in this post, anyway? Oh yeah, how easy it is for me to lose focus and direction. Well, I've never been very good at taking directions. Maybe I should take some more of those pills, rit-a-mins, you know? Then I wouldn't lose track of my directions, like north. Isn't it criminal how much global warming there is up north? Just because the prisons are overcrowded is not a good reason to let criminals out early on parole. I keep telling myself not to come in early, no matter how early I get up. I know I should sleep in more, but I just can't see the point. The point is, I can't see like I used to!

And you think you have it bad!

While I have a pair of those "music bifocals", I'm finding that my visual acuity (not too good to start with) is slowly declining. More junk in the field of view (floaters), and just plain harder to see things like eighth-note rests. Nothing wrong with my prescription; I just don't see good.

It means that I develop more of a feeling for what the guy with the stick is thinking, and the "it goes like this" type playing and memorizing.

In my workshop, I maintain three sets of near-vision glasses and 4 different powers of binocular loupes. (4-10). I find that my detail work is actually better than it was when I'd tell myself that I could see what I was doing without the headgear.

Considering the alternative, it's not bad.

sbring wrote: another. And last but not least, my lip muscles tend to get stiffer, making longer warmups necessary.

You just wait!

Sven

Maybe youve just kissed too many girls in your day

General question I'll put out there...

I exercise 3-4 times a week (jog/run/walk for 40 minutes a session). I do some calistenics too (pushups, situps) once a week.

Will a regular exercise regime, in your opinion(s), help prepare me for consistent high quality playing as I get older, or does aging just erode a few things, no matter how hard you try? I'm specifically thinking of my lung capacity; mine is very good right now I think in part to the rigors of the treadmill. I don't have to work at the air stuff too much right now because exercise really helps.

I'm screwed when my knees give out though...And my eyes are already crudy.

XtremeEuph wrote:Maybe youve just kissed too many girls in your day

Didn't think that was possible! ("kissed too many girls" -- sounds like an oxymoron to me )