Professional players practise repoirtoire

[Wailin']

What kind of things do professional players practice or shed?

[chayjazz]

I still practice scales, and long tones..alot...(smile) But I also practice new tunes, different types of scales, patterns, ear training, doubles (flute, clarinet), piano (playing chords), sight reading, transposing a piece of music to any key while sight reading. I try and listen too as much music as I can, all different styles and players. I also try to get a lesson or get together and play with "great" musicians whenever I can. But alot of my practice is the "basics", you can never get away from that.

[mwhaa]

long tones are a huge thing with many pros. But why worry about what they practice find your weak points and work on those

[Vortex]

I agree with all the abovementioned, different pros have different needs. From an interview by Tim Price with Nat Adderley about his brother, Julian:

Tim: Did Cannonball practice a lot?

Nat: Cannonball didn't practice a lot in the later years. But in the years when we were young, and the years we were in New York, he practiced a lot. Long hours; five to six hours a day.