"Emergency" playing Re: [TPIN] Warm Downs?

[Denny Schreffler]

First-call , first-class studio and theater work aside, there is an
underlying element of this discussion that we each need to consider --
there are (have been, will be) situations in our playing lives that we
have to play under "emergency" situations, maybe without ANY warm-up or
previous playing that day -- if you can't even imagine the possibility of
such a scenario, I' can give you a couple of examples off-list).

We have to be prepared for that possibility with a psychological mindset
and the physical ability to know that we can cover the gig without
excuses.

It was mentioned in an earlier post that a former USMC Band soloist
prepared for such an event by being wakened in the middle of the night
and then playing a full program beginning within two minutes.  He would
have been prepared for any emergency.

The "warm-up" can be psychologically stifling if it becomes a security
blanket, at best, and a convenient excuse, at worst.

I'm not saying that we should not warm up, or plan to warm up, or try to
warm up, or get up extra early to warm up for an extra early gig, but we
should be absolutely certain that -- if necessary -- we are capable of
getting started and getting through a gig without any warm up and without
anyone knowing (or caring).

You might see this inflexible addiction-to-warmup in gung-ho college tpt
students who usually are in less-than-first-tier instructional
situations.  Students with great teachers have already been clued-in to
this.

And, peripherally -- although it's been a few years (but only a
few) since I've had to actually put a mpc in a horn and produce sound
through every one of the valves while going through airport carry-on
baggage screening, it's a good idea to have something in mind to play in
such a situation (other than a chromatic scale) without warming up, and
it's always nice to not cack the first notes and to get applause from
one's ad hoc audience.

Denny Schreffler
Tucson

And, regretfully, speaking about a real emergency -- I have a friend
whose wife is a middle school band director.  Before their concert last
week, the oboe player was running around (yes, actually running) while
playing her instrument.  Of course she stumbled -- bumped into another
kid -- and rammed the oboe into her mouth, penetrating her soft palate
with the reed.  Blood, screaming, and collateral vomiting I am told.

While waiting for 911 to respond, my friend called one of his friends who
is a physician in the Air Force to get some immediate advice.  He told
the doctor the entire situation and everything that happened.  When he
asked specifically what they could do, the doctor told them that the best
thing that they could do would be to use a trumpet with a straight mute
to cover the part.




  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Wilmer Wise"
  To: "Dave Arndt"
  Cc: "TPIN Mailing List"
  Subject: Re: [TPIN] Warm Downs?
  Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 15:06:57 -0500


  We do what we must to make the performance happen. There was a time
  that I played day and night, and hung out after the gigs. Those
  days are gone forever. I don't always feel great, but I can play
  any hour of the day or night. There are many players that can do
  the same thing.
  In a major market town like NYC, warmups and warmdowns are a
  luxury. When the red light is on, you had better be ready. Dates
  in a busy studio happened with little or no break. Once a date is
  over, you leave if you are not on the next date.
  Warmups are preparations for performance, since Junior High school
  I have needed very little. Warmdowns in public venues are darn
  near impossible. You clear out of the pit, you leave the stage,
  you get out of Dodge as quickly as possible.
  That is my experience in the world I play in..........it may not be
  the same where you are.
  Wilmer
  On Dec 8, 2008, at 2:38 PM, Dave Arndt wrote:


  You must be one of those incredibly talented, natural and/or
  disciplined individuals who can knock out 3 shows a night for weeks
  on end, and still get up at 5am and play Charlier (or anything
  else), without feeling any effects from the night before. Very
  cool.

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