Enforced downtime

[Bobby G]

What can or do you do, in a musical way, when for whatever reason you are unable to play for a few days, say, or even a week or more?

Cheers, Bob

 

[Linky Lee]

Breathing exercises!

If you fancy a spot of lying down on a hard flaw that should help your back and if you stick a book on your stomach try breathing in so much it falls off.

breath in, count to three, exhale completely, go back to normal and do again.

You can practise your theory, aural training and listening practise.

 

[peter_fitton]

Good question, Bob. I want to know too as I'm also currently out of action sax-wise.

In my case this is due to an exquisite little inconvenience (copyright F Zappa) called Bell's Palsy, a viral infection which paralyses one half of your face in a matter of a few hours. No fun at all, I can tell you. I'm told it's unlikely to clear up for another 2 to 3 weeks :cry: :cry:

Anyway, for me it's back to my long neglected guitars.

I hope your back gets better soon, Bob.

Peter

 

[Bobby G]

....and likewise your Bell's, Peter - my partner Doreen had a mild case last year (her second, she had it quite badly before I met her). It's some kind of nerve damage, and can take several months before things are 100% again, although you can be back more-or-less to normal much quicker.

I think I may give the breathing with a book on my stomach a go as I have Grade 6 in Lying Down. Which way should the book fall, bearing in mind I am a bit of a chubster?

Aural and listening sounds good, maybe I could listen and try singing back, or at least working out, a few licks to try when I'm playing again.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Dylan]

Speedy recoveries to Bob and Peter 🙂

Bob, how about practising long tones using just the mouthpiece and neck? Just an idea.

D

 

[Bobby G]

Dylan wrote:
Speedy recoveries to Bob and Peter 🙂

Bob, how about practising long tones using just the mouthpiece and neck? Just an idea.

D

It's an idea, and something I do quite a lot of anyway. Do I want to scare next-door's baby, though

Cheers, Bob

 

[spike]

Why is everybody ill?

Transcribing is what I'm doing with my downtime, I can play sax a little everyday but by no means enough to be very useful, and I'm finding giving my brain a musical workout to be a pretty good alternative.

The mouthpiece excercise tip sounds like a good idea, my sound is getting a bit rough and edgy, and all I'm gonna annoy is my dog.

get well soon saxapleptics

gruss - spike

 

[Bobby G]

I guess the illness thing is down to the time of year, Christmas is but a memory and the winter stretches out for weeks ahead.

I have been prescribed some pretty darn strong pain killers, which have a side effect of making me quite drowsy. I am using this time for some subliminal education; while I'm lying down, I have theJazz on the radio at a fairly low volume, and the combination of the drug-induced drowsiness and the hypnotic music with No Ads and only the occasional station ident voice puts me in a trance-like state of utter peace and relaxation for a couple of hours. Hopefully during this time some of the sounds are embedding themselves in my psyche to be processed when I start playing again.

Cheers, Bob

 

[tris]

Although my back is much better I still could do with more instumental practice. Having 8 hours a day was a way of life. Now I am only getting three... trying not to upset neighbors / being a temporary house husband.

OK it is not so bad as I possibly should not be playing for 8 hours a day.. need another year to get enough stamina with the sax to be meaningful for that amount of time... I am not sure whether I would be able to concentrate.

So when I can't physically play the sax I'll practice via visualization.

Plus I play the bongos a lot.

Also Bob trying some meditation / yoga would help your playing a lot I am sure. PLus you can never be too flexible! 😉

Speaking of meditation that is what I am off to do while the little bugger has a nap.... he will be painting in the kitchen later so I can get in an hour of long tones before I have to start jet washing the kitchen and him... :laugh: Then I'll do some bongoing with him.. work on some of my rhythmic ideas and have a jam with the wee man.

 

[phil_edwards]

Bobby G wrote:

I think I may give the breathing with a book on my stomach a go as I have Grade 6 in Lying Down. Which way should the book fall, bearing in mind I am a bit of a chubster?

Cheers, Bob

Preferably not on your embouchure... 😉

regards, Phil

 

[Pjonah]

Have you considered turning to alcohol?

Just a thought!

:cry:

Simon

 

[Bobby G]

I have tried alcohol, but it has side effects on me, such as light-headedness, slurred speech and giggling, so I tend to give it a miss. Thanks for the thought though.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Pete Thomas]

Just take a break from the saxophone, usually does more good than harm IMO.