I remember the feeling well: the feeling that responsibility was lifted, that opportunity lay around every corner, that every day contained the seed of adventure.  I had just finished my junior year in high school when my best friend and I were heading out in his blue MG convertible.  We pulled out of the school parking lot and turned on the radio.  The not-so-dulcet tones of Alice Cooper belting out “School’s Out” filled our ears, only to be overwhelmed by our own really-not-so-dulcet voices joining in.  Freedom was our wind; time was our sail; the whole world awaited us.  We would achieve great things and have unforgettable experiences…

I have no idea what I did with myself that summer.  Well, actually I do, but I have no idea what I did to improve myself as a trumpet player or musician over that summer.  I had already decided that I wanted to be a professional trumpet player, and I know I practiced over that summer, but I don’t know what I improved, if I improved anything at all.  There I was, focused on a career in which it is excruciatingly difficult to achieve success.  I had the whole summer to focus on improving my playing and make big progress towards achieving my dreams.  How did I spend my time?  Well, I won’t tell you her name, but suffice it to say that I wasn’t too focused on my trumpet playing!  Even with no distractions at all, though, my progress may not have been great.  Why?  Simple.  I didn’t really know what I needed to be working on in order to be truly productive.

Determining what to work on while outside the guidance of a teacher is a very common problem and/or concern among students.  At the end of every school year, I am bombarded by questions from students about what they should work on over the summer.  Sometimes the students seem bewildered, curious, or even a bit afraid.  These reactions are understandable.  Staring into the kaleidoscope of seemingly endless summer can be daunting.  There you are, perched on the abyss of long and empty summer days.  You are certain you will jump, but uncertain about how or when, or, most importantly, what the outcome will be.  Having so much freedom in your life is truly a blessing, but it is also a challenge.  How will you mold your putty of time into something that satisfies your various goals and desires?  On the surface, this question may seem simple, but the deeper you dig, the more complex it becomes until you suddenly realize the dizzying array of options that are at your disposal.  Ten different things that you want or need to do are whirling around in your mind, but plucking one out of the air and setting your aims on it can often be like the scene with the keys from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: once you grab one, then the rest instantly and ruthlessly give chase. 

Some of you, I know, can feel no sympathy for someone that has so much time that they are not quite sure what to do, and you are probably thinking that you would gladly trade your problem for theirs.  You may well be justified in feeling this way, but it is certainly easier, and more common, to underestimate the thorniness of this issue, rather than to overestimate it.  You might be surprised how difficult it is to know what you should be working on or how to go about organizing your practice day when you have an array of endless possibilities at your disposal.  Imagine kayaking in the middle of the ocean; you can go in any direction you please, but going the direction you want is another matter entirely.  For those of you that are operating without a compass, this article is for you.

When deciding what you should work on over your summer break, you first need to establish some goals.  Your goals should avoid focusing on achievement – like getting a higher chair at the beginning of school auditions – but rather with your playing itself.  Pick the five trumpet skills that create the most fear for you – the skills that make you squirm in your seat when an upcoming passage features them prominently.  Write these five items down in order, with number one being the skill you fear the most.  Once that is done, begin building a practice schedule that will help you eliminate those weaknesses.

Without fail, I recommend that people do a big amount of foundation work over the summer.  Heavy doses of Stamp exercises have done wonders for some of my students over the years.  If you have questions about how to practice these exercises or are unfamiliar with them, you can refer to my earlier article series, Stamping It Out, Part I, II, and III, to get more information.  Focusing on the true foundation of your playing can help you play in a healthier, more efficient manner.  It is easy to treat summertime practice like summertime reading: whimsical and carefree.  But it is important to remember that this is probably your best opportunity to change or solidify your basic playing setup.

Beyond foundation work, take a look at your previously mentioned list of five weaknesses.  Decide what type of exercises need to be done to improve that particular aspect of your playing, and then bury yourself in them.  Keep focused on the fundamental weaknesses in your playing.  Do these things first in your day, every day.  After that, enjoy discovering some new music.  Make a list of music that you have wanted to learn, but have never quite found the time.  As your summer marches by, check pieces you have played off your list.  These can be solos, etudes, or excerpts, or any combination of the above.  Focus on material that you have the greatest desire or need to learn, but remember, your fundamentals must have top priority.

If you do all of these things, your playing will improve, but if you really want it to flourish, then you would do well to keep a practice journal.  Make a practice schedule for the following day and write it down.  As you move through your scheduled material, write it down.  Augment your entries with notes about how it went and how you felt.  Keeping this type of journal will keep you on track and focused, and it will help you track the progress you are making.   At the end of the summer, you will be able to flip through your journal and see that an exercise you initially struggled with at quarter = 64, you now play effortlessly at quarter = 138; or you will read about your straining high C that has turned into a confident Eb.  These types of written notes are powerful.  Don’t underestimate their value.

It is true that staying on course over the sparse summer landscape can be a challenge, but it is this challenge that represents perhaps your greatest opportunity for improvement.  Get organized.  Work hard.  Make the most of this incredibly valuable time.  And God help you if you meet a girl…

If you have comments on this article, send them to : comments@livmusic.com

To discuss this article on LivMusic Interactive click here.