[Jkulin]

Due to a Bereavement, Holiday and Work pressures, I have not been able to pickup my Sax to practice for over 4 weeks, the longer it went on, the more apprehensive I became.

Whilst the funeral was going on I didn't feel it right to play.

Tonight I overcame my fears and played for about 3/4 of an hour, I was incredibly surprised at how warm my tone was and even though I had n't played for so long I felt it sounded good, I really was scared that I had lost it, I was worried my embouchure would fall apart as well.

Tell me, was I just lucky or does a break like this sometimes help?

 

[hakukani]

A buddy of mine used to say there was two types of woodshedding, the kind you do with your horn and the kind you do without.

What he meant is that sometimes during a layoff, whether or not it is forced, may not be all bad. Your brain may integrate some things, so that you can do things you couldn't do before. Generally, however, these are musical things, not physical, 'muscle memory' things.

Depending on how long or how well you've conditioned your muscles, there should not be too much 'muscle memory' loss in a month.

 

[asaxman]

If I lay off for two days, I notice the difference - I guess it's different for other players. If I don't play flute for a few days: YIKES- It hurts a lot!