A Must-Read for Brass Band Players - How You Should Spend Your Time Before a Big Competition

Thank you all for your hard work at the brass band competition! I still remember when I was a student, we packed a lot of instruments into the trunk and got on the bus together to go to the competition.

This time, I would like this blog to be about how to spend your time effectively before your performance since it’s related to the competition.
I hope that brass band members will read it in preparation for next year's competition. Let's get started!

In my opinion, there are three things to keep in mind before a competition.

To begin with, the day of the competition is the most important day for the concert. You want to show all of your blood, sweat, and tears that you have put into practicing every day. For this reason, I think preparation is also an important skill for a performer before a competition.

First, "Practice in the hall as if it were the real thing.”

Practicing in a concert hall is indispensable before a competition. Unlike practicing in the school’s music room, concert hall practice is a time when you can practice with the actual competition in mind, making it a meaningful time for the competition.

The first thing to check during concert hall practice is the stage setup! This is a mistake I experienced when I was a junior high school student at a competition I entered for the first time. I was not aware of the importance of concert hall practice on the day of the competition, and then I started to notice things while I was playing. The first thing I noticed was that the distance between me and the other players in the ensemble in the hall was much wider than usual. Since we were always playing together in a tight ensemble, I couldn’t hear the sounds of my seniors, whom I usually relied on, and I had to trust myself to play…And it was hard to hear the cues around me. I remember being quite impatient at that time. I was not used to performing on stage and I was nervous. I couldn't give a very good performance. I hope that everyone will treat concert hall practice as if it were the real thing so as not to have this kind of experience.

Also, since you are practicing in a hall, be sure to record your performance. By listening to your own performance objectively, you will be able to notice things come up and you will have feedback for where you need improvement. In particular, be aware of harmony and overall balance.

Second, "Take care of your health."

This may be more important than anything else. It would be a real disaster if you get sick from practicing too much in a hurry. Also, be careful of "mouth ulcers" for brass and wind players. Mouth ulcers and rough lips are the most important problems for brass players to avoid. It is really painful to play an instrument with mouth ulcers. Without a doubt, it is difficult to play in perfect condition. Also, mouth ulcers take time to heal. I used to take Chocola BB every day, not eat sugary sweets, eat vegetables, and sleep well as measures to take care of myself before a competition. I tried to be careful in my daily life, but I did not eat anything sweet one week before the competition. These measures were quite effective! Please give them a try.

Third, "Don't eat raw or spicy food."

I know this sounds like it came out of nowhere (lol), but this came from my college professor. My college professor always said this to me which I thought was a little strict, but I know he had a good reason for it. First of all, raw fish and shellfish, in particular, are out. If you get food poisoning, you can't move or participate in practice. If it’s bad enough, you can’t even participate in the actual performance, which is such a sad shame. So, if it is about a week before the competition, you may be able to hold out a little and stay away from raw fish.

Next, no spicy food. This is simply because it makes your lips swell. I think it is OK if it is just a little bit, but don't eat spicy food so much that your lips swell up. Your embouchure will collapse.

Closing

How was it? Instrumentalists, like athletes, are surprisingly careful about various things. It is important not to be too nervous, so I hope you can read this article just as a reference.
I hope all of you do your best so that you will have no regrets during the competition, which is held once a year.

Lastly, I would like to recommend the following products that can be purchased at Sound House for brass band clubs.

POWERbreathe / Plus Wellness (Standard Load) BCPB2001

POWERbreathe / Plus Fitness (Heavy Load) BCPB2002

POWERbreathe / Plus Sport (Extra Heavy Load) BCPB2003

POWERbreathe strengthens the abdominal muscles, lung muscles, and diaphragm. Lung capacity is essential for wind instrument players. By using this, they should be able to play long phrases effortlessly without having to take a breath. I hope that flute and tuba players in particular, who need a big lung capacity, will try out this product.