Pacing ourselves

Group shot from a recent event 2016

​Pacing ourselves
"Things ain't what they used to be" Mercer Ellington

That's for sure. But, I'm encouraged by the numbers of mature musicians who are active and healthy. I plan to be one of them.

Some of habits that I hope will help me stay in the game.
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1. Getting enough sleep: A constant challenge given my busy schedule. I’m learning to say no. But, if I let down my guard, cluttering activities move in and upend my best intentions. How do I know I’ve gotten enough sleep? Easy, I feel happy, energetic, optimistic and full of beans.
2. Limiting alcohol intake: Thankfully easy for me. Alcohol and aging are not good buddies. Apparently, drinking guidelines commonly assumed to be healthy are not. Or were designed for younger adults. Check out these guidelines from the National Institute of health. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/alcohol-use-older-people
3. Warming up before practising: A real necessity to avoid injury. My aches and pains have been greatly reduced with daily stretching. Learn this from professional. Flabby bodies need guided help. You don’t want to pull out the proverbial back. Call your local YMCA or city recreational centre, they have the experience.
4. Staying hydrated: An area needing my attention.

Practice regime drums

i.Monday Jazz band practice, total 2 hours plus.
ii.Tuesday rudiments and very light practice, total 30 minutes.
iii.Wednesday is lesson day with Terry Clarke and Rock band practice, total of 3.5 hours.
iv.Thursday is practice day at home, 1 hour. Once a month I attend a Jazz jam and play about 30 minutes
v.Friday another practice day at home, 30 minutes.
vi.Saturday afternoon, optional hour if time allows.
vii.Sunday another practice at home, or jamming out, 1 hour.
viii.Total hours: 10. 5+ hours a week

Practice regime on the piano
i.Monday to Friday about 30 minutes a day
ii.Saturday afternoon, 1 hour
iii.Sunday 1 hour
iv.Plus, about 2 hours of professional reading a week
v.Total hours: 6. 5 hours a week

That is a lot of wear and tear on a 57-year body. So, I’m going to bed and hitting the gym early in the morning.

Cheers,
 
David Story
www.davidstory.ca
 
 Coming up: A conversation with Terry Clarke, drummer extraordinaire. The interview has taken place, I'm busy transcribing it.

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