Some excellent thoughts here from Trisha Craig (a wild flautist – oh, yes they can be, y’know, don’t be fooled!)
An amazing young colleague recently had this as her Facebook status:
- I quit flute.
Her friends responded with comments like, “Oh, no, you are SO GOOD!” or, “Don’t quit!!!” and “Nooooo!”
My response? Do it. (But, it’s not what you think. . .)
The late, great, Ed Gobrecht – bassoonist, conductor, educator, master inspirer – once horrified a group of undergraduate music majors at Ithaca College by recommending that we all take a month off from our instrument every summer. His point was that no other professionals practice every day for their entire lives and everyone needs a break in order to avoid boredom, stagnation, and injury. Professional athletes take a break in the off-season. Surgeons, lawyers, and engineers take vacation time. Writers and artists take time off to seek inspiration. Why should musicians be compelled to never take a break, or feel guilty for leaving their instrument at home…
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Jason Lyon on Music 
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