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Recovering from sickness
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 5:09 pm
by dsfinley
For the past 2 1/2 weeks I’ve been dealing with a horrible respiratory infection. This is the most time I’ve taken off in at least a few years. My face feels terrible and my chops are not 100% yet. I play quite a lot of gigs starting next month and through the summer so I’m trying to get back in the habit. But man, I’ve never had as rough of a time getting back in as I am right now. Maybe it’s part of getting older. My inner voice is definitely not kind right now. What are your ideas and routines upon returning from an extended break?
Re: Recovering from sickness
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 7:06 pm
by Jewood
Start slow, then ramp up quickly. Since it was a respiratory problem, make sure your breathing is OK. Spend a few days just doing mouthpiece work, long tones, slurs. Make sure breathing works as it used to, then jump in with both feet.
Been there myself a few times, have allergy issues. Yoga breathing helped a lot, carried that over to long tones. My morning routine now is some deep breathing followed by a few minutes of mouthpiece work, then whatever feels good followed by what is on my schedule.
Re: Recovering from sickness
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:54 pm
by bloke
Whenever that H1N1 virus was getting spread around, I was stuck in the bed for 2 or 3 months two winters in a row. I just did what I could as I could. If I started coughing when I was playing (after I was basically well again), I would just not do what I was doing that made me cough. Often, what made me cough was playing particularly frequencies/pitches.
Re: Recovering from sickness
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:47 am
by bort2.0
When I had COVID 3 years ago, I had a similar experience. Don't rely upon playing tuba to get your breath back, either... Do a lot of walking, take the stairs, etc... tuba playing was great, but keep it going constantly with all the other stuff.
Don't worry, it'll come back.
Re: Recovering from sickness
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2024 11:29 pm
by Jperry1466
I'm recovering from my 3rd round of bronchitis since Christmas. I've been playing a lot of euphonium, since our ensemble doesn't yet have a reliable 2nd euphonium player, and our community band euphonium section is weak. That helped as it took less air. Finally started back on the tuba yesterday, and it will be a slow process to get back in shape. Just do what you can and don't push it. It will come back.