Tag: rusty

Stamp Out the PHOBIA of Amateur Music-Making

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Expanded from “Recreational Music-Making,” published in the Fall 2024 UPPER ST CLAIR TODAY magazine.

The definition of a “phobia” is “an anxiety disorder involving excessive and persistent fear of a situation or object.” It is known that exposure to the source of the fear may trigger an immediate anxiety response. And, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 12.5% of adults in the U.S. will deal with a specific phobia in their lifetime.

Some of the most common phobias include arachnophobia (fear of spiders), acrophobia (fear of heights), aerophobia (fear of flying), claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), mysophobia (fear of germs), and trypanophobia (fear of needles), to name a few.

But why on earth do we have a “fear of amateur music-making?”

Okay, I doubt there is any true rational cause for anyone to be afraid of picking up an instrument or singing in a group, except for a touch of stage fright (if it’s in public) or that always-present “fear of failure” (possibly resisting the urge to make a fool of ourselves?). But, making music or opening ourselves up to creative self-expression is one of the greatest gifts we have to personally experience and share. No one hesitates to play a game of cards, catch a ball, or swim with the kids… even if “we are not all that good at it!” So, why are some adults so reticent about letting down their hair, finding and dusting off that old band or string instrument in the attic, warming up their “chops,” brushing up on the fundamentals, and playing a few notes? Remember all the fun you had in school music? (Sure, you might be more than a little rusty, but that’s understandable. Do you recall your music teacher’s instructions on how to hold the instrument, read the notes, and “find” the fingerings? It’s not too hard to re-orient and recapture those early steps.)

We can and should be inspired by those breathtaking performances of professional musicians, singers, dancers, and actors – their amazing artistry always looks and sounds so perfect! But are you telling me that art is only for the virtuosos, maestros, or experts? No, music is for everyone! It is timeless and does not discriminate by age. It offers meaningful life-long learning for all stages, past experiences, and ability levels.

As if you really need stats to prove the benefits of music, please peruse the NAMM Foundation website here: https://www.nammfoundation.org/articles/2014-06-01/Benefits-learning-and-playing-music-adults. They quote “the value of recreational music-making to be scientifically proven” to help the U.S. workplace by reducing employee stress, depression, burnout, and improving worker retention. In addition, as a music teacher and former school choral and orchestra director, I frequently share this quote by Don McMannis in “Use Music to Develop Kids’ Skill and Character” from the March 19, 2009 online post of Edutopia:

“Music has positive effects on people’s emotions and creativity. When we sing together, we synchronize our breathing and feel more connected. Music is also an effective, almost magical medium for learning and retaining information, [because] it activates three different centers of the brain at the same time: language, hearing, and rhythmic motor control. By inducing emotions, it also creates a heightened condition of awareness and mental acuity…”

As for “us seniors,” there are so many amazing benefits of music lessons throughout our “golden years!”

  1. Cognitive well-being (“reduce the risk of cognitive decline…”)
  2. Emotional resilience (“provide a powerful outlet for self-expression and emotional release…”)
  3. Physical benefits (“improve motor skills, enhance coordination, increase overall physical activity…”)
  4. Stress reduction (“therapeutic escape from daily worries… relax and unwind…”)
  5. Lifelong learning (“promote a sense of ongoing personal growth… the joy of learning and mastering new techniques…”)
  6. Social connection (“bringing people together… combat social isolation… and create a sense of belonging.”)

Check out additional information at the New York Musician’s Center blog here: https://nymcmusic.com/f/the-remarkable-benefits-of-music-lessons-for-senior-citizens

Truly, you have no valid excuses! I am guessing there are many community choral, jazz, band, and orchestra ensembles inside and outside the surrounding areas where you live. And don’t forget to consider visiting a local church to join their choir!

In the southwestern Pennsylvania area where I reside, there are numerous opportunities for getting involved in adult amateur music, art, dance, and drama venues. I have the links to 20 ensembles from the Greater Pittsburgh area alone on the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair Arts page here. Take a look at a few of their upcoming June and July concerts below.

This fall, adults and “music lovers of all ages” should drop-in to several open, free-trial, no-obligation-to-join rehearsals of the South Hills Junior Orchestra (SHJO) on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Upper St. Clair High School (USCHS) Band Room. After the successes of SHJO’s annual spring concert on May 23 and a community outreach performance at the Paramount Senior Living Facility in Peters Township on May 30, we’re taking a break over the summer. But mark your calendars! Our next practice is scheduled for September 12, 2026. Here are our proposed dates for 2026-27:

If you live in the South Hills/Pittsburgh area, musicians are also invited to another group that rehearses at USCHS, the Community Band South (adults only). Directed by Max Gonano, CBS meets most Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m., even over the summer months! Bring your instrument!

The next time you host a dinner party, bring out that old song book or pick up your fiddle or flute! Gather around the piano and encourage your family and friends to join in a sing-along. Hopefully it does not take a few glasses of wine before everyone can shed their inhibitions and relax a little… and enjoy the incredible effects of communal music-making! What do you have to lose? There’s no time like the present!

Stamp out the phobia of amateur music-making!

PKF

© 2024, 2026 Paul K. Fox

Did You Take the Summer Off?

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Rebuilding instrumental technique after a long break

Director’s Note: This is the week to get ready for the return of the South Hills Junior Orchestra after all our vacations! If you live in the Southwestern PA area, we hope you will consider this a personal invitation to “TRY SHJO” and participate in several free and open rehearsals of our community orchestra – a totally “judgment-free” place for creative self-expression of all ages and ability levels. Practices are held in the Upper St. Clair High School Band (1825 McLaughlin Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241) on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

A Google search on my computer fetched the following “AI Overview,” a nearly perfect summary for wind players to recover their “chops” and bring back good tone, intonation, breath support, flexibility of the embouchure, key literacy, and practice habits. For players of all orchestral instrumental sections, I recommend revisiting other articles in the Fox’s Fireside Library to develop a “practice plan” and adopt new musical goals. PKF

To rebuild your brass and woodwind instrumental technique after a long break, focus on the following gradual, three-stage process: first, restore your tone and response, then regain flexibility and dexterity, and finally, rebuild range and endurance. Prioritize short, consistent practice sessions, and avoid pushing too hard too early to prevent injury and bad habits.

Stage 1: Restore tone and response

Your primary goal is to reacquaint your body with the fundamentals of playing by focusing on soft dynamics and your lowest register.

  • Breathing exercises: Start without your instrument. Practice deep, diaphragmatic breathing to re-engage your respiratory system and expand your lung capacity. You can use simple routines like inhaling for four counts and exhaling for eight, or try the “pinwheel” exercise to visualize steady airflow.
  • Buzzing: Brass players should spend time buzzing with just their mouthpiece to get their lips vibrating efficiently again.
  • Long tones: On your instrument, play sustained, steady notes at a soft volume in your lower-to-middle range. Focus on producing a clear, characteristic tone. Use a tuner to monitor your pitch stability.
  • Short practice sessions: Limit your initial sessions to 5–20 minutes, with plenty of rest in between. This prevents over-straining your facial muscles and embouchure.

Stage 2: Regain flexibility and dexterity

Once your tone and response feel stable, you can begin to expand your comfortable playing range and improve finger speed.

  • Scales and arpeggios: Practice basic scales and arpeggios at a slow, controlled tempo. This helps rebuild muscle memory for your fingers while keeping the focus on even, beautiful tone.
  • Slurred partials (brass) and lip slurs (woodwind): Practice smoothly transitioning between notes without using your tongue. This strengthens your embouchure and improves air control.
  • Simple music: Play easy, melodic pieces you know well. This helps you focus on phrasing and musicality without the pressure of a difficult score.
  • Increase session length gradually: Slowly add time to your practice sessions, perhaps moving to 15–30 minutes at a time. Continue to take frequent breaks.

Stage 3: Rebuild range and endurance

After re-establishing your fundamentals, you can begin to increase the intensity and duration of your playing to return to your previous level.

  • Expand your range: Gently start working your way into your upper and lower registers, but maintain a soft dynamic level. Only increase volume once you can play a note softly with a good tone.
  • Louder dynamics: Once your full range is accessible, begin practicing with louder dynamics. This is physically demanding, so continue to take frequent rests.
  • Articulation: Incorporate tonguing exercises. Start with basic single tonguing before adding more complex techniques like double and triple tonguing.
  • Listen to your body: Your body will be the ultimate guide. If you feel any pain or unusual fatigue, ease up and incorporate more rest into your routine.
  • Mental preparation and practical tips
  • Listen to music: Remind yourself of what inspires you and listen to your favorite players to reconnect with the joy of playing.
  • Record yourself: Objectively evaluate your progress by listening back to recordings. This helps you identify areas that need work and celebrate your improvements.
  • Revisit old notebooks: Look back at any old lesson journals for useful reminders and insight into your past tendencies.
  • Service your instrument: A leaky pad or sticky valve can make returning to your instrument unnecessarily difficult. Have a technician give your instrument a “clean, oil, and adjust” to ensure it’s in prime playing condition.
  • Be patient: You are not expected to be at your former playing level immediately. Trust that your muscle memory will return with consistent, smart practice.

Click here to download a printer-friendly copy of this article.

 Here are additional resources shared in the SHJO eUPDATE newsletter (August 30, 2025):

PKF

© 2025 Paul K. Fox