Lethargy when practicing indoors

[The Jackson]

Ahoy, friends,

I've recently noticed something strange about my tuba playing with regards to practicing and I wanted to put it out there to see if maybe someone else has experienced the same thing:

For a while now, I can remember myself getting very exhausted and lethargic whenever I practiced at home. After a very short time, I would feel so fatigued, light-headed, and dizzy. I just chalked it up to me being a lightweight and having to concentrate more on my breathing or endurance or something. For the past seven weeks or so, though, I've been doing basically all of my practicing outside (on campus at school). I feel that same exhausted feeling in the school practice rooms, so I'll just sit on the grass, do my warm-up thing with scales, lip slurs, etc., and feel great. There is no exhaustion, no dizziness, and I could be out there all day blowing on the horn.

It's spring break now, so that means that I'm back at home. I pulled out the tuba to go practice in my living room and I felt that massive wave of fatigue grab me again. It's almost instantaneous and it makes me just want to fall on the floor, and that really discourages me from practicing. I don't want to even look at the horn when I'm feeling this way. It's totally bizarre.

So, it would appear that I have a "thing" with practicing in medium/small-sized (playing in a big concert hall is no problem) rooms. My living room isn't that big, and the practice rooms are small, and they both seem to make me feel like a quivering wasted piece of jelly. Sitting outside and under the sun, though, I feel like a million bucks. What gives? Anyone have similar experiences? I look forward to your responses!

- Jackson

[SousaSaver]

Short answer: Sousaphone.

We can put one together with 5 valves in the key of CC. No problem.

[tclements]

TODAY, go out and get a CO2 detector. I suspect there may be something going on there. Open the windows, &/or lower the temp in the room. Remember tuba playing is an aerobic excercise and will raise your core temperature. Goo dluck.

[curtisthornton]

I have this exact same problem. I just figured i was being a wuss and left it at that. Who knew there was a logical reason behind it. Go figure.

[Bob Kolada]

I have this exact same problem. I just figured i was being a wuss and left it at that. Who knew there was a logical reason behind it. Go figure.

That doesn't mean your previous evaluation is wrong.

[circusboy]

The others may be onto something with the CO2, but I'm wondering if it may have more to do with the indoor setting just feeling more like work and the outdoors feeling more like play and freedom. I also find that playing indoors at home is just plain more distracting (computer, TV, recorded music, etc.), and I'm usually playing at night, so the dimmer light may have something to do with it.

One thing that works for me in this situation is to play standing up. I get more air and get to move around some. Give it a shot.

[bort]

EVERY DAY, regardless of weather, hot, cold, snowy, rainy, etc... open your windows for a few minutes to get fresh air inside.

Houses are not air-tight... but they are pretty good. Just a few minutes to flush in some fresh air will do you a world of good. I used to work on the 22nd floor of an office building up here, and seriously could not breathe right. Every day, I felt like I had a cold from 9:00 to 5:00... and soon as I left, got a breath of fresh air, I felt great!

[dvtuba]

Since you say "it's spring break now," it makes me assume you're a student and I wonder if physical activity has anything to do with it. When I was in school, I was constantly running to this class or that rehearsal or the gym or outside for some ultimate frisbee. I always had to carry a protein bar, granola bar or something so I could re-fuel as I went. I wonder about this because I, too, have difficulties playing at home, sometimes. And it's the same kind of difficulty you describe: this overwhelming fatigue. Usually, I have to stop and eat or go for a jog or something. Anything to get my blood moving again. Being at home usually has me wanting to do...NOTHING.

[dvtuba]

Agreed.

[The Jackson]

Thanks for all the responses, friends! You've given me a lot to think about.