Posted by tubagoo on January 05, 2001 at 15:28:50:
In Reply to: QUESTION FOR ALL THE MILITARY GUYS posted by just curious on January 05, 2001 at 15:04:18:
it has been nearly 15 years since i did basic. My advice.....forget it! You will have enough to worry about just with basic training. You won't have "free" time. Besides the last thing you want to do is draw attention to yourself. Let the chops relax and take it as an opportunity to eliminate any bad habits. If you are going on to the military school of music, they are experts in rebuilding players after basic. Upon your return, play long tones, simple articulation exercises etc.
as a side note, a friend who went to basic a few years after i did, got summoned by the post band for a "detail" (military word for raking leaves or mopping floors). Turns out the band knew he was going on to a post band gig and the called him in to sleep a few hours and to play a horn if he wanted. He said he enjoyed the sleep more than the horn playing.