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Over summer break my family travels a lot. Maine, Ohio, Nantucket, Virginia... and most of the time I can't bring my tuba along. Last week I was in Nantucket and all I could do was buzz on my mp and do a few breathing exercises. Today I came home, whipped out my tuba, played a few notes, and felt like I was set about a month back. What can I do to keep this from happening when I go to other places?

PS, used the search feature, but didn't feel like looking through the 12742 matches.

jbaylies wrote:Over summer break my family travels a lot. Maine, Ohio, Nantucket, Virginia... and most of the time I can't bring my tuba along. Last week I was in Nantucket and all I could do was buzz on my mp and do a few breathing exercises. Today I came home, whipped out my tuba, played a few notes, and felt like I was set about a month back. What can I do to keep this from happening when I go to other places?

PS, used the search feature, but didn't feel like looking through the 12742 matches.

Stop worrying and enjoy your vacation. It is OK to miss some time, it's cathartic and won't hurt you a bit, trust me on this one.

Chuck"who wished he had followed this advice when it was offered up but who now REALLY ENJOYS every chance to seperate himself from music because when I come back, it's really cool because I love it again"Jackson

Unless you take a horn, I'm not sure that you can keep it from happening; what you CAN do though, is try to minimize it.

First, get a BERP or something similar to simulate the feel of the horn, and keep your endurance up so that it doesn't take forever to get back.

Second, use the opportunity to learn some things you CAN do while you're travelling. Learn some new music in your head, work on ear training, rhythm can be done with no horn at all. Get some etude books, get some tuba recordings, there's quite a bit you can absorb including sound, pieces, etc. if you really want to.

Then when you get back, you'll have GAINED an awful lot besides just putting the horn up to your face.

DEFINITELY take your mouthpiece along, and if you're flying or worried about weight or anything, just get a Kelly to take with you. The BERP is a good idea, I hadn't thought of that. And take some of your music.

You may or may not be a "buzzing" person, meaning using buzzing as part of your daily routine, but no less than Jacobs said when he was in the hospital as a boy with mouthpiece only it was the best thing that ever happened.

If I'm having trouble with a part, I try to sing it, then buzz it before going back to the horn so I can have some idea of getting the valves going correctly.

Enjoy your vacation. Your horn and your music will be there when you get back. Just thinking about your playing may help you to understand more about music. Again enjoy the time with your family and don't sweat the music.
Phil

I know you said you searched through the archives, but...

Search again for a thread from 2005 called "Out of Shape"

Good advice there.

Bring a trumpet.

Tom wrote:Search again for a thread from 2005 called "Out of Shape"

Search found 839 matches

The search function doesn't work on my computer, can you post a link?

See

viewtopic.php?p=75546&highlight=#75546

I pretty much have to agree with all the posters.

Ever take a 4 day break and then attempt to do single and double tonguing to a very fast speed? Usually, after several days rest, i can pick up my horn cold, warm up, and play these faster than normal......due to REST!

We always need some rest. now, mouthpiece buzzes...good i guess....if you're gone for a while. But usually, a break will only set you back for a couple of days. Then you'll be back to your old self.

As mentioned before...AURAL SKILLS are an excellent thing to practice if you're concerned. But...I enjoy a vacation when i get one, so enjoy yours.

If you're away for a long time, bring a mouthpiece with you and buzz scales and such against drones on a portable CD player or iPod. I've found this really helps accuracy. When you come home, I've found if I start with a really steady, progressive routine (like the brass gym) and do it religiously, after 2 or 3 days I'm right back to where I was. Your mileage may vary.

.

NeilMacQuarrie wrote:Unless you have committments upon your immediate return

I have a Band Camp audition in a week. Sr SYMS.

go down to a music shop, buy something, and then "try" their tubas for a few hours. I was lucky enough to be vacationing and switzerland and got to "try" ALOT of great tubas (besson, Hirsbrunner, Willson, etc.)

Thanks for the advice everybody!

I ♡ Tubenet!

Every soldier who goes into the Army band has to go without playing an instrument for all the time he/she is in basic training--almost three months. No musicianship is lost.

Don't worry about it.

I took my horn on vacation and my practice mute . I really enjoyed it. Since I used the mute every time I played I never disturbed anyone . As it turns out weather was bad for part of the week so the whole family was stuck inside a couple of days . Since the cabin we had rented had a finished basement I would go down there while the kids were upstairs watching movies .
Iwould suggest the BERP thing and buzzing . PLay fun stuff you like to play and leave the boring drills and scales for when you get back . They'll be there when you get home !

Have a good time on your vacation .

However, to quote a common tubenet thought, "At least it's not a viola."[/quote]

Aww! come on! i love viola. its like a violin and cello all in one! and (if you can play it (unlike me)) then its beautiful.

like a violin and cello all in one!

Case in point. One bad thing + Another Bad = Even Worse thing

Most instruments can be beautiful if you can play it...(except bassoon )

aw dude!!!! I like bassoon too!!! its low.