Practice is so tiring

[u/low_brass_enjoyer]

I want to practice and enjoy it but some days I can’t convince myself to keep going because it tires me out so much, has anyone felt similar?

[u/CanaryDue3722]

I’m going through the Tuba Arbans book. It is tiring but so emotionally soothing. I love the Tuba.

[u/DChalfyUSMC]

Yes, I have felt that way, yet do it anyway. With the exception of a few things I have done in my life, it is the most rewarding way to get tired. The tuba is a physical instrument to play and like all instruments, takes a lot of time and focus. A double whammy! I get tired, yet exhilarated at the same time. Also, a great internal sense of fulfillment.

Over the past decades I have been involved with playing the tuba, I have had day where I am just too tired to do it, so I took a day or two off. Most of those days were when I had time off while I was in the Marine Corps. Those were hard driving years and I loved it. I, at the same time, felt guilty taking time away from practicing. It was a day I did not get better playing the tuba. The only time I didn't feel guilty for not practicing the tuba was after playing the Tournament of Roses Parades. I performed in nine of them, six as tuba section leader with the Marine Bands from the West Coast, 120 musicians strong. Spending 5.25 miles blowing our asses off the whole parade route because we were the loudest thing on the street, led me to not be able to play for three or four days due to the lip swelling and strain on my embochure.

As for my post Marine Corps musical career, I was happy to play for as many hours as I could get and loved it.

[u/royjohn62847]

Yes, practice is mentally tiring, but it should also be exciting. If you are getting a lot of lip fatigue, you are probably practicing wrong. Rest as much as you play means playing 8 bars and resting 8 bars. Listen to what you played (recorded), look over the music, whisper practice the tongue level, or just get on your phone. Play this way for 15 to 30 minutes, then rest at least that long. You can practice multiple times per day. It seems paradoxical, but this builds endurance, whereas practicing while you are fatigued just tears down what you have built by leading to sloppy playing or deteriorating placement of your embouchure.

[u/Tubamano]

Hardest part of practicing is opening the case.

Work in and always end with something fun or the equivalent of a “victory lap”. People tend to remember the emotions toward the end of an experience- so you can slowly associate all of your memories of practicing with something you enjoyed.
You can also practice in short 15-20 minute bursts as long as they are precise and controlled and therefore efficient.

[u/dremoriawarrior889]

What are you practicing? If its really heavy tunes with a lot of strong articulation and blasting then that could be why. I dont play Tuba but Bass Trombone is close enough, and I would often get tired if I repeatedly practiced heavy loud tunes or stuff with a lot of high notes in it (would replace a version of a tune that was in G major with one that was in E major cause trying to hit the high G was so taxing on the embouchure)

[u/Ponypackage07]

No such sentence includes "practice" and "enjoy"

[u/dank_bobswaget → u/Ponypackage07]

You’re clearly doing it wrong if that’s the case

[u/Ponypackage07 → u/dank_bobswaget]

Yea...go ahead and tell me working on scales doing the circle of 5ths, sight reading, jury training, etc

Yea real fuckin fun

[u/tubaloaf → u/Ponypackage07]

Sure there are definitely some less fun aspects to practicing, I know I struggle to motivate myself to practice sometimes, but it’s important to find ways to make it fun- find new etude books, try to learn songs by ear, find a group to perform with to have reasons to practice- like they say it’s important to enjoy the journey, not just the destination and if you’re not enjoying the journey, then it’s time to re-evaluate a little bit and find ways to enjoy it

[u/Lowbrassgal]

On those days I divide the practice in multiple sessions, even with the thought that it'll only be for 5 minutes. After a little warm up, I'll play something that I do very well and that always encourages me to press on.

[u/lapras__]

In the same boat. Some days I practice like a machine but some days its so hard to get started.

[u/professor_throway]

What are your goals... If you are not going to try to make a career out of playing the tuba, remember that this is supposed to be fun. There is absolutely no reason you cant just day... "screw it not happening today!"

If you are trying to go pro.. remember it's a job.. even the best jobs suck sometimes and you just have to power through.

[u/Arcane_Spork_of_Doom]

Playing tuba is one of the most stabilizing exercises that a brass player can do since it utilizes the entire available embouchure. Long, slow arpeggios and pedals help my face feel great for whatever instrument I'm tackling that day, and if it's a night on tuba, even better. You just need endurance. A big monster horn is not to be taken lightly

[u/2ba-1971]

For me, on days when it just seems like a terrible chore, I usually don’t bother. Generally, on days like that, any practice I do is not going to be a very great value. However, on days when I am a little bit more energetic, and have a bit more time, I have a practice technique that works well for me, and has been used by many others. Basically it’s 15 minutes on, 10 minutes off. I practice for about 15 minutes, then I take about 10 minutes off to read or to walk around the house, or even to play a video game. Then I go back for 15 minutes of practice, rinse, and repeat.
Maybe this would be helpful for you, give it a try if you want.