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Practice Room Frustration Is Useful Feedback
Practice Room Frustration Is Useful Feedback I remember when my brother, a French horn player, would get into terrible bouts of frustration and anger while practicing in high school. At one point he even wrinkled his bell by punching it. Frustration is something we need to listen to. It’s important feedback. Most often, frustration shows…
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Practice Tip for Trombonists: Subtract, Don’t Add
Practice Tip for Trombonists: Subtract, Don’t Add by Dr. Logan Chopyk — Spectrum Sound Studio In complex movement tasks—whether in golf, athletics, or especially instrumental music—technical problems rarely come from doing too little. More often, we’re simply doing too much. When we remove unnecessary tension and interference, our body’s natural coordination takes over, and movements…
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Skill Bridges, Part III: How Parallel Activities Break Barriers
By Dr. Logan Chopyk – Spectrum Sound Studio Every brass player eventually encounters a barrier so stubborn that no amount of traditional practice seems to help. Some struggle with chronic tension. Others find themselves locked into inefficient breathing patterns. For a small but significant group—especially those experiencing severe imbalance or focal task-specific dystonia—the very act…
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Skill Bridges, Part II: How Energy Exchange in Skiing, Skating, and Cycling Transforms Your Trombone Sound
By Dr. Logan Chopyk – San Diego Trombone Lessons Whether you’re learning trombone, teaching brass, or performing professionally, you can borrow experiences from other activities to teach yourself to play trombone with flow, efficiency, and joy: The way you surf a wave; carve snow on skis; shred with a longboard on asphalt; take high speed…