Returning to Playing Brass After a Break
Coming back to a brass instrument after time away doesn’t have to be traumatic — but a lot of players approach it that way. COVID restrictions cut a huge number of brass players off from playing with anyone else for a long stretch, and that hit young players especially hard: so much of the appeal of a brass instrument is making music with other people, and a whole cohort of beginners missed out on that early on, with plenty of them losing interest before they ever got proficient. Plenty of experienced players quietly drifted into their own extended “sabbatical” too.
Whatever the reason for the break, the ability you’ll notice missing first is endurance. Facial muscles are muscles like any other — they need regular use to stay strong. I took a 20-year break from playing at one point, and endurance was, by far, what suffered most. My range came back essentially untouched, and once I’d relearned to read music fluently again, I was back in the saddle.
Rebuilding endurance
The way back is long tones — played high, without leaning on the mouthpiece for support. Focus on tone quality, a steady pitch, and consistent volume. Play until your lips genuinely tire, then stop and rest. Repeat that daily. Remington’s daily exercises are excellent for exactly this kind of rebuilding, and worth seeking out.
Get your face time in
Find an ensemble to play with at least twice a week — you need real time with the instrument in your face, not just solitary practice. Build a regular, frequent routine and rediscover the material that used to feel like second nature, alongside some new material to keep it interesting. Arban’s Method (free to download here) is the classic for a reason: work through it properly and you’ll be equipped to handle almost anything put in front of you.
Fix what needs fixing
If your embouchure had issues before the break, this is actually a good moment to address them — it’s much easier to make a change now than after you’ve re-established the old habits. Get input from an experienced teacher; a lot of excellent brass teachers now offer online lessons, which means you can access serious expertise without ever leaving home.
Most of all, reconnect with why you loved playing in the first place, and enjoy getting back into making music with other people — you’ll likely find you bring a fresh perspective to it this time around.