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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MikeMorrell" data-source="post: 630730" data-attributes="member: 4674">I played my sax for the first time in 2 months again at a Big Band rehearsal. The 2 months were broadly split between a month's vacation (including a few days preparation and a few days unpacking) and a month preparing for, having, and 'after care' for a cataract operation. After the cataract operation I suddenly discovered that 'after care' meant that I couldn't play sax for at least 3 weeks.So tonight, I was (personally) quite pleased at how it went for the first time. But I also really felt the 2 month 'break'. Mainly in terms of my slower 'sight-reading skills', my 'forgotten' musical and muscle memories of how certain sections were supposed to be played. And my recently discovered '5-7 year old reading glasses' didn't help much in reading the sheet music'. And (as was to be expected) I could could feel my embouchure wearing out towards the end of the rehearsal. Even though the 'tenor saxes' had long breaks while our MD was working on the Bari saxes and other sections.My Big Band has a '25 year anniversary concert' in a month's time. Which means - after tonight - just 4 rehearsals left. When I first discovered that it was 'unsure' when I could start playing sax again - it could have been next week - I let our MD and 'committee' know that IMHO it would be very sensible to find a replacement 'tenor sax' for me for the concert. Which they have done.So at my 1st rehearsal this evening, I was an 'additional' 3rd tenor sax player. To my utter amazement, we also had 3 bari sax players. Two of whom were 'ex-band members'.Anyway, for the lead-up rehearsals to the concert, I suggested to the MD that it would be better (for him and the band) to continue rehearsing with the band members who have already rehearsed for the concert in the period that I was 'absent'. Mostly because 4 rehearsals seemed to me too short a time for me to really get 'up to speed' for a concert after a 2 month break. And the current two tenor saxes (the 'standard' Big Band complement) seemed to me fine for rehearsals and the concert. I would just be a '3rd wheel'. So I gracefully 'bowed out' from the upcoming rehearsals and the concert.TBH, I didn't really enjoy the rehearsal much. Great to play sax again but I noticed a lot of 'down time' for the saxes. And a lot of (constructive!) nit-picking over the timing of certain sections/players in certain parts of each number. During the whole 2-hour rehearsal (with a 30 minute break) we worked through just 3 numbers. TBH I was often bored.I'm looking forward to my 'Rock/Pop band' rehearsal on Saturday, when I can (again for the 1st time in 2 months) play in the 'horn section'!</blockquote>