How fast do you lose/regain ground?

[Rue]

I, somewhat inadvertently, took a break from the bassoon this summer. I hadn't played since the middle of June. I picked it up yesterday and omg...awful. Today though, I was appreciably better. Hopefully I will get most of my chops back by the time rehearsals start.

Which had me wondering how quickly ever one else loses and gains ground.

[uncle duke]

I never used to practice either during the summers months while in school long ago..  First thing to do is clean everything and then rebuild the embouchere/ombescure {mouth muscles} and start running scales.  Back then for me it was trombone and euphonium.

[Will L]

Interesting question.

 

The older I get the harder it is to get back to some level of proficiency.  But when I was young I could recover in a few days.

 

One interesting thing that I found is that when playing a commercial tour with loud amplification over a period of several weeks-to a couple of months, even though I was playing every single day, when I got home it would take about two weeks to get back any semblance of good tone and intonation.  I complained about this to another player on the same tour and he said it took him a month.

 

So my conclusions are that everyone is a little different, and that just playing—without being able to really hear one's self—is not enough to maintain one's chops or improve.  We don't get better, or even maintain a given level, without being able to hear very well what we are doing.

 

Another thing I found was that playing in a symphony requires more maintenance (outside, careful practice) than playing in a chamber orchestra.  I was lucky to play in a good chamber orchestra for several summers and found I could actually improve my playing with little outside practice.  In a symphony, IMO, we can't hear ourselves well enough. I also believe that playing in a string quartet is just about the same as practicing alone.  The tolerances are about zero and you can hear yourself just fine.  

[Rue]

I'm glad I'm not the only one!  I was much better on the bassoon yesterday...but still not back to my 'best'...

 

Hopefully if I keep at it I'll be okay for mid-September.  I hate honking during rehearsals.  It inevitably happens in a part where it's obviously me.  I can't blame it on the tuba...

[Will L]

What is really missing in my ability to get back to normal is the pads of my fingers.  That can't be done in a week or two.

 

That subject might make an interesting thread, because there's—to my thinking—a fine line between a sufficient toughening and a callus.  I don't remember this being discussed before.

[Rue]

I had the bestest calluses when I was playing the mandolin.