On the injured reserves

Well, I have finally experienced what some brass players may call a rite of passage- I've injured my lips by playing too much.  Injuries for any classical musician are always nerve-wracking things.  Not only do many of us assume this is THE injury that's going to derail us permanently (what, melodramatic? me?), but oftentimes these injuries are invisible and, potentially, psychosomatic.  Unlike football players who strain their hamstrings or groin muscles (which sounds painful, don't get me wrong), I've strained any one of potentially 30-40 minute muscles that surround my mouth that no one except brass players or glass blowers probably ever think about.  At least I think so.  Gah!

So after 4 days of truly frustrating practice wherein I have simultaneously regressed 7 years technically yet know exactly what I "should" be sounding like....I've decided to take some days off.  I never take days off.  I think my last one was sometime around New Year's.  This is not because I'm some incredibly diligent worker, though I've always been one for the practice.  It's more that the amount of time and energy it takes for me to get back in shape has never seemed worth that one day of sitting around relaxing and eating bon bons.  It's the reason I exercise- the energy required to run 3 miles is significantly less than the energy it takes for me to feel bad about not exercising.  Perhaps this is true for everyone, I don't know.  I was raised Catholic, can you tell?

In any case, I'm planning on taking 3 days off from my horn, to the extent that it is possible with my performing schedule.  I'm not going to practice, listen to horn, or maybe even think about my horn until my head clears and my lips stop tingling.  I hear this is a healthy thing.  I myself am not convinced, but for the sake of everyone in the music building who's had to listen to me sound like a junior high student and then swear like a sailor, it might be better if I made myself scarce these next few days.  And those muscles that have decided to plead uncle had better man the hell up by the time I get back.  Harumph.