Swimming and plenty of it...if you can't swim try hill climbing...playing hymns alternating between pp and ff and increasing the number of bars you can play in one breath. Just a few suggestions :lol: _________________ Alan
I had another surgery about 4 months ago and I have had more trouble with support this comeback than on any of the preceeding surgeries. When you can control the air it is so hard to play. It is so hard because the mind knows what to do but the body is just not ready. _________________ "To be a teacher you need to be as good a performer as you can be: you'll have more to impart to your students musically." - John Haynie
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:40 am Post subject: Conditioning
Having a degree in nursing and having been trained in physical therapy as well, I can tell you very emphatically that only usage of the muscles will strengthen them to do the task that you ask of them. In your case, thoracic surgery has disrupted the muscles of your chest and to some extent those of your abdomen. These are the muscles that need exercise. Do as your therapist tells you. Things WILL get better. I have been there myself following a multi bypass cardiac surgery. It ain't fun, but, do it anyway. You will be glad that you did.
In my case it is not so much a comeback because I'm already playing gigs -- just weddings, but I'm back making a few dollars with my horn. Pardon my language but recovery sucks -- as you said it is no fun at all. The worst thing is that I looked forward to playing my horn. Now it is a chore because it hurts so much to play.
One thing I did was started to play too soon after surgery. Now I have some complications caused by my desire to get back on the horns too soon. Today , next weekend, and the next weekend are the first jobs where most of what I'm playing lays above the staff. Than God for my piccolo trumpet! Also, thanks to Jason Harrelson for my very efficient C trumpet. I have to work hard, but not half as hard as I would on a normal C trumpet. _________________ "To be a teacher you need to be as good a performer as you can be: you'll have more to impart to your students musically." - John Haynie
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 6:42 pm Post subject: comeback
I am playing second chair solo cornet in a community band, where we play two numbers that take me to high C and to Db above high C. I make it, but, I always wonder as I approach that segment. It is getting easier as I progress. My biggest problem is sight reading new material. I no longer can simply react to the spots on the paper. I am still seeing the spots and then deciding what to do with the spots. It is like trying to read a foreign language that I was once familiar with, but now have to translate from that language into English. I am hoping that I will again simply react without having to make up my mind what to do with my fingers, tongue and lips for each note. I do have to say that I am getting faster as I practice more with sight reading unfamiliar music.
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