Sometimes...

ice can be your best friend. When you're walking in the Iowa Winter and it's been raining/sleeting all day, and the roads are covered, not so much. But when you've played entirely too much in one day, ice is amazing.

I find that I have fewer academic obligations this semester, which leaves more time for practice. (Hooray!) Unfortunately, this means that most of my schedule is made up of ensembles. Sometimes, playing beyond your means isn't all that avoidable, especially in an academic situation. You're obligated to be there, be prepared, and play to the best of your abilities whether your face is tired or not.

What's a player to do? Take it easy in rehearsal if at all possible. If it's too high and a thick texture, take it down the octave. If there's a big unison, blow-your-brains-out part, sit it out. Most importantly, when you get home, if you've overplayed and are feeling fatigued, then ice your face. If you have jaw troubles, alternating with a heating pad may help that as well. Ibuprofen is not only a pain killer, but helps with swelling as well, so for major face beating, you may consider it too. I've also heard that some professionals use Preparation H to reduce swelling, though I've never personally tried it.

Last night after my many hours of rehearsals I neglected to take my own advice. I was so happy to be home and focused on what to do tomorrow that I forgot to take care of myself. I was rewarded with quite a fat lip this morning. The muscles in your face react just like any other muscles, and overuse tends to lead to swelling and tenderness. It's much better to preempt a sore face by icing it when you get home, than to wait until it's two or three times its normal size the next morning.

I find that the longer I play the horn, the "lower" my aspirations become. When I began college I wanted to be a high paying, exciting studio musician. The idea of being a part of the incredibly powerful movie soundtrack for a film like Robin Hood or Pirates of the Caribbean was very tantalizing. Over the next few years, I decided a well-paid professional symphony would be a better place for me: less stress and still awesome. As I entered my junior year of undergrad, I took a lesson with Jim Wehrman who plays with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. His advice in that lesson made me begin to think even more about my chosen career. I decided that perhaps teaching at the university level and playing in a smaller, but still professional ensemble would be ideal.

After a year in a masters program, I have once again set my sights on something else. My primary goal is to publish at least one book about the horn and how to practice, as well as starting a private studio. I am particularly interested in beginning young players on the horn. It's interesting that the more I mature as a player, the less fame and money are important. I realize now that the greatest reward I could receive for all of my efforts studying the horn is a genuine thank you from a student I have helped. A good friend of mine told me last year "There's a place for everyone in the horn world, you just have to find where it is." This past summer, I think I finally found what my place is supposed to be. Thanks Pat for the good advice. If you haven't quite figured out where you want to be in the horn world, don't sweat it: there's room for all of us!