A Protocol for Recovery
My Method for Regaining Playability
Disclaimer: The following is a protocol that I’ve used and modified for the past 15 years of my playing career. It is not a perfect or exhaustive system, and I’m always trying to learn better and/or different methods to regain functionality after strenuous playing situations. This is not medical advice. This is meant to deal with the normal light bruising and/or moderate swelling that occurs with heavy amounts trumpet playing. If you are experiencing sharp pain, lots of bruising or swelling, please STOP PLAYING and seek medical assistance. I’m a doctor, but not that kind of doctor.
We have all been there. A rehearsal in the morning, show in the evening, then a church gig the following morning. Or a marching band rehearsal on a Friday morning, football game that night, followed by a contest the next day. The church gig or contest rolls around and we can’t play. Our lips feel thick, unresponsive, and maybe even a bit bruised. It’s a frustrating experience and one that can be avoided (to an extent) with some simple steps. Here’s what I’ve found to work for me:
1. After you are done playing for the day, warm down for a bit. This should be soft, easy playing that focuses on allowing the lips to vibrate freely. That might mean some “air ball” notes and that’s fine. Nothing should be forced, just allow those notes to be airy. Once the soft playing is working again, you can put the horn in the case. Personally, I don’t do much warming down, mainly because I haven’t noticed a big difference in my recovery. It definitely feels good though, and I know many players swear by it.
2. Grab something cold and apply it to your lips/face. Be careful. Using a towel or some sort of thin barrier between the cold object and your chops is a must. Your lips are made of easily damaged skin, so caution is required. I like using a wet paper towel wrapped around a bag of ice. A dry paper towel can stick to your skin and cause a painful tear if removed too quickly. Make sure that you don’t leave the cold object in place for too long, as that can cause damage as well. So, sit on the couch and alternate a few minutes “on” with a few minutes “off.”
3. Ibuprofen. Once again, I’m not a medical doctor. Use this as intended. Taking a dose before bed can make a huge difference. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and will help reduce swelling.
4. Drink lots of water and get as much rest as possible. It should be said that these practices, along with eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, are crucial to longevity in general and career longevity specifically. They are especially important for recovery after a hard day of playing.
5. The following morning, apply some gentle heat to the chops. I like to use warm water (as hot as possible without burning yourself). My personal favorite method is filling my cupped hands with water and doing “horse flaps” (loose lip flapping) into the water, effectively making a hot tub for my chops. I will do this repeatedly for several minutes.
6. Low and slow warmup on the horn. Nothing forced, just getting things moving. Lots of rest. This might be a little uncomfortable at first, but hopefully things will loosen up with some time.
I should add that there are a variety of topical anti-inflammatory ointments, etc. that are available. Several are marketed towards brass players specifically. From my experience these can be a valuable tool, especially when applied throughout a hard day of playing. My favorite is Robinson’s Remedies, but others love Chop Saver. Arnica gel has been very helpful, and it is widely available. Do some experimenting for yourself.
That’s it. The principal idea is to reduce swelling as much as possible in the evening, and then get the chops loose with heat and a low-intensity playing session. Will your chops still feel “bad?” Yeah, probably. Bruising will take time to go away. But this will give you a fighting chance, and that’s all we can ask. Sometimes the best cure is a day off of the horn….but if that’s not possible, give this a try.
Benjamin Hay, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Trumpet
Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, OK
February 2021
Duet Resourses
Reference List
“Pedagogy Behind Duets: Improving Performance and Practice Together”
Drs. Benjamin Hay and Andrew Cheetham
ITG Conference
San Antonio, TX
2022
Amsden, Arthur, “ Celebrated Practice Duets”
Gale, Jack, “12 Jazz Duets for 2 trumpets”
Gansch, Hans, “37 Weisen & Jodler für 2 Flügelhörner”
Gates, Everett, “Odd Meter Duets (Treble Clef)”
Gekker, Chris, “44 Duos for Trumpet”
Hickman, David and J.C. Dobrzeleski, “Essential Orchestral Excerpts”
Plog, Anthony, “Concert Duets”
Rudd, Wiff, “Collaborative Practice Concepts”
Samayoa, Raquel, “Dueling Fundamentals for Two Trumpets”
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