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hello everyone,
i am a moderately proficient player, but lately i have been in a slum so to speak. i can not motivate myself to practice. i was wondering if anyone here had any tips on this subject? upon reading this forum, i have noticed that a lot of you have students, so i figured you deal with this problem with them as well.

thank you
-Eric

just find some fun stuff to play. don't worry about the scales and technique for awhile. take a break from the boring stuff. Play along with some dixieland recordings or some dirty dozen brass band type stuff. With Christams coming up see if you can play carols by ear without reading music, develop your ear. Eventually the need to get back to work on the other stuff will come.

play something different than you usually do.

ken k

I'd agree with that, but get some sort of target for your practice, whether it is long notes, high notes low notes tonguing, slurring intervals or whatever you are working on, and use some music you enjoy to achieve the target. Remember, playing should be fun, and there is no reason not to have fun whilst learning.
The other thing I sometime notice with my playing is that I have reached a plateau, not getting any worse or any better at what I am playing, if that is what you are feeling, leave the instrument alone for a few days (maximun of 5), and come back to it refreshed - and move out of your slum to a better house

Lately, I've been revisiting the Rubank method books. Many of the developmental etudes are in the form of short melodies designed to develop a particular skill. Because they are in the form of a complete melody, they are entertaining to me. They can be challenging because they frequently have many dynamic and rhythmic markings.

Christmas/holiday tunes can be fun to play also. There is/was a guy on eBay selling Christmas arrangements by download. The tuba selections came as arrangements for a four tuba ensemble. The first had the melody and the others were harmony. Could be fun playing alone or for your family or with one or more tuba pals.

I think the key is to do something fun for awhile.

I like play-alongs when I feel in the dumps about practicing. There are plenty of them at local music stores, if not for tuba, then for trombone/baritone. Just read them down the octave and play along with the boom box.
Even better, though, is to use SmartMusic (http://www.smartmusic.com/). Record yourself, play along with lots of standard repertoire, just have fun.

I would suggest two things. The first is to avail yourself of every opportunity to perform or audition. Always have something you're working toward. If there are no formal concerts or auditions that you could resonably do then make something up, wether it's a formal recital for family or a 1 hour concert at your local park with your hat at your feet. Set a recording studio date and prepare to do a personal CD that you'll give as a Christmas gift. What ever just remember that we are performers. That is why we play, and if we're not performing we get bored. Within that effort set playing goals that you're trying to achieve. This will keep you motivated in your short to long term playing career.

The second thing I would suggest is probably the most helpful in your day to day motivation to practice and that is listening. You play music because you love music or you should stop playing music. So listen...all the time. Find something new and have a weekly 'music I've never heard' session. Listen to things you've loved for years that remind you of why you wanted to play in the first place. Sit back and enjoy, or analyze and ask yourself how you could recreate that nuance you've just heard. Listen to plenty of tuba music in solo, chamber, and large ensemble settings but definately do not limit yourself to listening to the tuba. (many of these comments I'm sure you're already aware of)

Listening will not only increase your desire to participate and recreate what you hear it will also increase your capacity to get better. If you already listen to a lot of music try to engage more with what you listen to. Keep a note book of impressions of specific pieces. 'I like the way this was done, or I didn't like that performance and this is why...' etc. Hope this helps.

Try going on vacation for a while. You don't have to play through this. Take a break - you wont forget how to play over the course of a month or so. When you get back to the horn you will most likely remember why it is that you play and you will enjoy it again. If it's not fun then why do it?
Good luck, Phil

thank you for all the tips guys. i will deffinately incorporate these in my day-to-day practice. . . or not practicing. . . and yes, i guess i did mean slump. lol

Man, this is an important thread -- this happens to everyone now and then.
How you deal with it is an important thing...


A few ways to get over that perennial *hump*:

1.) Pick ONE basic aspect and shed it. ONE slur, one scale, or heck...the tone of one note. Do it until you like it. Then stop.

2.) Read and experiment with new music or sounds. No rules.

3.) Revisit stuff you already know but haven't played in a while. That's a really good way to find new perspectives and joy in the music as well as build confidence. Additionally, go back and re-listen to music that originally inspired you to pick up the horn in the first place years ago.

4.) Play with the radio/tv etc... play along with music that has NO tuba or is characteristically non-tuba. (ie play with no pretensions or expectations) Try to fit the tuba into that music that has no tuba.

5.) Finally, be honest with yourself and seek things that go with what / who you are. There are many things that might or say or imply what you *should* be doing - unfortunately, that's not what music is about... and is often one of exact situations that cause these slumps. Simply go play what makes you happy. Again, there are NO rules.

Lastly, realize that consistency beats sporadic intensity when it comes to shedding: For instance, it's better to shed 20 minutes every day, than 3 hours twice a week. That’s a good place to start. Start with a goal you know you CAN do... (say I’m going to do 20 mins *every* day this week) set the timer, and STOP when it goes off... then reward yourself with a beverage of your choice. Next week 40 mins, and so on and so on.... it’s easy to increase the time that way - before you know it you can be in a routine of several hours a day, if you take it far enough.

It works. Money back guarantee.

And above all, enjoy it.