My Practice Sessions: Chris Clark

Chris Clark is a trombonist in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.

What time do you begin your first practice session?
Preferably first thing in the morning. I love to get started before 7 am. My favorite morning time is to get up at 4:30 and do an hour first thing.

What is your daily warm-up routine?
I use a mix of materials, but I am a long time fan of Remington. I also use the Vining Daily Routines, Stamp, as well as regular Arban and Rochut.

How long have you stuck with this specific routine?
Wow, well, I studied with the late Dr. Neill Humfeld in high school, so I started Remington way back then!

How long is your warm-up routine?
My “ideal” warm-up includes maintenance practice as well. I can get a lot done these days in 45 minutes.

What part of your warm-up do you look forward to the most?
Getting started – that’s the hardest part, and once that’s done the rest is easy!

How has your daily warm-up routine changed over recent years?
Somewhat… I have become more conscious of playing things “just because”. If something is a strength, or seems to be working well on a given day, I move on to other things. Also, adding variety to my warmup in recent years has become both necessary and effective.

What time of day do you generally practice?
Morning is the best. My second most productive time is between 4-7 pm.

How many practice sessions do you typically have a day?
If I have a lot of time, I break them up into 3-4 shorter sessions. If I’m pressed and just need “face time”, I practice as long and hard as I can in one session.

Do you have a strict time limit to each practice session?
Not really, but I find the longest I can be effective in a single session is about 45 minutes.

Do you do anything the night before to make your practice sessions easier?
No, just try to get enough sleep.

Do you have any non-music related routines such as meditation or exercise to help prepare you for your daily warm-up?
I do meditate. I am new to it and still working on making it a daily practice. I find meditation essential to my life as a whole, therefore it is becoming as important to me as practicing!

Do you use any apps or products to enhance your practice sessions?
I always intend to! I do use Tonal Energy sometimes… I use the Analysis tab and look at the waveform, plus the pitch readout line on the waveform. It gives me a visual reminder of some bad habits I’m working to overcome lately… Otherwise, I tend to record myself a fair amount.

How does your partner and/or family fit into your practice sessions?
It’s tough! I have a wife and two young children, and family demands can frequently feel overwhelming. That is one of the main reasons first thing in the morning practicing is so effective for me. Put first things first.

On days you might be on tour or traveling, are you able to adapt your routine to fit in with a different environment?
When I’m on tour with the Marine Band, a very easy warmup in the morning is essential for me to feel decent at our evening concerts. Warming up in a way that is the opposite of what my band playing mostly consists of (band loud, warmup soft and easy!) is critical.

What do you do if you fail to get a solid warm-up, and how does this influence the rest of your day?
If I can’t get a warmup, I just try to make the best. I will also add that I try not to put myself in the situation where, if I have something important to play, that I don’t plan ahead and get up early enough to get a warmup in…

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just do what works for you. Listen to your body and your intuition. It’s easy to get stuck doing things just because it works for someone else. Let your teachers and mentors be your guides, but make that your starting point. You know what works for you and what makes you feel “warmed up”. Do that.