I am not here to tell anyone how they should practice whatsoever, or that anything so far mentioned is wrong, by any means……..but allow me to share my own ( fairly unique, maybe ) method of practice.
Let me give you some facts, first.
I am 70, first of all, and not a “comeback” player, but have more or less been playing for the better part of 60 years. I think many of those years where spent playing more incorrectly than correctly, I might add.
The way I practice lately, I would say the last 5 years at least, does not follow anyone else’s suggestions this far. I'm not a rebel, per se, but I am 70, so, “who cares what you think?”. No offense to anyone.
I don’t necessarily warm up much. I ( almost ) always play music to play along with, most of the time using YSB ( Yamaha Silent Brass )
for peace in the house purposes….
So, the set list is vast, and diversified, and that is what keeps my interest. After all, I get to play with Phil Smith, Chris Botti, Al Hirt, Wynton, Wayne Bergeron, Tim Zimmerman and the King's Brass, Herb Alpert, whoever I can find to play with. The list goes on……
I change my set list every day, though not entirely, and try to make it as difficult as possible, yet still keep it fun. To increase my range, I try to play things up an octave. Everything in the entire song. Endurance? I play things in different parts, same song, until all the parts I may have are covered. So, what, you say?
I repeat my earlier comment, “who cares what you think?”
So since Covid, I guess, my range and endurance has reached levels I have never gotten to, nor dreamed possible. True fact. See earlier quote. I am not recommending this method to anyone here. I am just sharing a personal experience. Probably there are many here ( and with good reason ) who would try to tell me I am going about things all wrong. See quote. I'm 70. IDC.
The proof is in the pudding, so to speak. I speak for myself only, and really, you don't have to believe me, it makes no difference to me here. If you heard me ten years ago, and then now, ( live, in person ) you could make a fair assessment, but you can’t. You only have my word on that, so my word is what you get.
Sorry for the length of this short novel, but I felt everything had to be included, and besides, I’m 70.
