Posted by Melissa on March 14, 2001 at 09:07:28:
In Reply to: How do you deal with this? posted by bumfuzzled on March 09, 2001 at 13:40:47:
After having this problem myself during this past summer all I can tell you is to relax. I know it is easier said than done but after playing for so many years we sometimes lose touch with why we play the tuba in the first place. Our focus comes to be mostly on competitions coming up and the demands that we have to put on ourselves to be the best. And our attention is placed on everything we have to fix with our playing, which can become very very stressful. Sometimes I get so mad at myself and the way I play that I have to put the horn down and step out of that practice room before I explode. I take a walk and just cool down, when I come back I am ready to try that hard lick that I just can't seem to get right and it actually sounds a little better than it did before. (well, most of the time)
That's my 2 cents worth.
I hope is helps, and good luck, don't stress out!
Melissa =)