I’m not sure who coined the phrase, ” Season of Sacrifice” but I first heard it I believe, from Liz Craft on the podcast, Happier in Hollywood, to describe the period during which she and her partner, Sarah Fain, are writing screenplays. I loved the term because it applies so aptly to the period of intense practicing that a musician has to endure before an audition or recital, or any unusually demanding concert.
I know I said I would be going back to my usual subjects this week, but I still have so much to say about the recent CWBC weekend event in Toronto and everything surrounding it that I must make you wait another week (or so). So, if you’re only here for the gardening or knitting, sorry! My friend, Victoria, told me she thinks of my site as Vivian’s Tranquil Garden of the Soul, and I was touched and inspired by that idea. It’s exactly what I’d like this site to be. I might have to change my site’s subtitle to reflect that.
So, getting back to Season of Sacrifice (or SOS). As a musician I’ve grappled with these periods since my early days as a piano student, when I would freak out at the thought of my upcoming recital and practice every chance I got (probably starting way too late!). At University I had the same pattern, of practicing a “normal” amount and then revving it up a few weeks before the recital. I remember having to excuse myself from family events or slipping away during the holidays to practice and thinking that my family/friends must think me nuts and possibly rude. I didn’t like doing it, but the pressure of the upcoming event (whatever it was) made it impossible to ignore the call to the practice room. (Which, when I was at someone else’s house was more like a seat on the bed with a chair for a stand.)
Until I retire, the SOS will continue to be a returning visitor. Before the CWBC event last weekend, I had been practicing much more than usual and trying to up my game a bit. Working on my upper range for one thing which, as a second trombone player, is not exactly my priority normally . However, I knew my biggest challenge for something like this would be my endurance, followed closely by my nerves. I’ve heard people call the hours of practicing “money in the bank” and that’s what it feels like. You put those hours in as a kind of cushion for what’s ahead. Knowing you’re prepared helps your nerves stay in check, too.
However, in this case, I had trouble truly gauging how much the three rehearsals the day before the concert would challenge my endurance the next day. I don’t blame the organizers, there was really no choice but to have all the rehearsals the day before, due to scheduling difficulties. I realized too late that I might have been smart to ask to play one fewer piece during the show (since the parts were divvied up to give everyone a break), but hindsight is 20/20, and that’s how it fell out. Everyone complained about their chops, so I knew I wasn’t alone, at least! Anyway, live and learn. I’m only 58, so I have plenty of time to finally figure this stuff out, right?? With a few minor exceptions I was pretty happy with how I played that night, so the SOS was not in vain.
The SOS is sometimes a huge pain in the neck, as any musician can tell you. Practicing in the early morning, late at night, whenever you have a chance, and even staying home from parties sometimes, boo! Also, it’s wise to limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine, try to get ample sleep, keep your body working by exercise and stretching, etc, etc. So, what made me think of it as a subject for my blog, is what a huge relief I’m feeling right now, to be out of the SOS for awhile. I took two complete days off the horn (my chops needed it, as well as my brain!) and am now enjoying a little light practicing to get back into the daily routine. I’m drinking an extra coffee in the morning, just because I can!! It’s awesome.
My next Season of Sacrifice is coming up in April, when I’ll be getting ready to play Tuba Mirum. As soon as I get back from our OSM tour (I return on March 28th) I’ll be starting to rev it up again. The experience I just came through will help me immeasurably, I know, when preparing for it. Despite my years of experience on the job, whenever I have to do something out of my usual comfort zone, it takes a huge effort in both practice and mental discipline to get ready. If I did more outside concerts, I know my nerves and endurance would get better and I would worry less and enjoy more. At my age, that’s unlikely to happen, unless I decide to form a trombone quartet in my retirement, maybe! More likely I’ll be forming a knitting group. And on that note, back to our regular scheduled programming!
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