How Are Brass Musicians Practicing?

I always enjoy reading and researching the routines of high-achieving professionals. One of the first books I read on the topic of routines was Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey. In this book, Currey dives into the lives of many artists, writers, and musicians who formed simple yet effective habits that made them turn into some of the greatest creative people our world has ever seen.

Reading Currey’s book led me to another popular blog-turned-book called My Morning Routine by Benjamin Spall and Michael Xander. In this book, Spall and Xander interviewed a wide variety of professionals asking all of them the same question: “What is your morning routine?” In addition to this book, I also subscribe to Writing Routines, a weekly email newsletter that interviews some of the great writers of our day asking them how they research, write, edit, and prepare their next book or article.

As with many topics that were eventually published on the Last Row Music website, I often ask myself, “How can _____ apply to the brass world?” With a lot of thought, planning, and seeking advice, I have created a new series entitled:

“My Practice Session(s)”

My Practice Session(s) is a look at the practice routines of professional brass musicians. Once a week, a new musician will be featured with a behind-the-scenes view of their practice routine. Currently, the series is geared towards brass musicians with the possibility of expanding to other wind and string instruments. So far, members of the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Alabama Symphony, and several college/university professors have sent responses – all giving readers a look into how they practice.

I’m very excited to start this new series! The first person on the list is Chris Clark, a trombonist in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. It was at a Panera Bread in Columbus, Ohio that Chris and I talked about this very topic of gathering information on practice routines.

Click here to read about Chris Clark’s practice sessions

and

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly email
(Note: These weekly practice sessions will not be posted on Last Row Music’s website)