you are not your horn

Have you ever had a lip injury?? or had something happen that made you think that you were AT THE END OF YOUR PLAYING CAREER?!? *cue suspenseful music*

I had a huge identity crisis when my lip was injured that got me thinking about how my horn (and horn playing) is WAY too wrapped up in my persona.

I was unwillingly thrust into an identity crisis that got me questioning everything. Simply put, I was unable to play for about a week and my world came crashing in.

Has this ever happened to you?

Me personally? I have had many other bodily things over the years (like 2 c-sections and another abdominal surgery) and yet I didn’t have nearly the internal angst about my horn playing as this lip injury. Why not??

Because I was at peace knowing that I would BEGIN again very slowly adding a few minutes each day until I was back up to a couple of hours, etc. As long as I could play, I had a plan.

Have you ever known someone who has had a lip injury? or other oral things like dental work like having wisdom teeth pulled? (I’m a basket case at the dentist)

But this was much different. This is the first time that I have ever been unable to play because of a lip injury. I wasn’t in control and I couldn’t see beyond the injury. I didn’t have a plan.

There’s a very fatalistic emotion that can take hold of you if not playing isn’t your choice..

What should your plan be? Most importantly, remember, you are not your horn. You have a fabulous identity DESPITE your horn. Keep them separate.

Here is my new plan, maybe it can work for you:

1. Don’t panic.

2. Don’t play if there’s pain anywhere.

3. Figure out where the pain is.

4. Are you recovering from a procedure and just need time and patience?

5. Try warm compressions for muscle pain and cold compressions for trauma.

6. Don’t play your full work-out routine too soon! You’ll only delay the healing. Take baby steps and play things like Rochut Melodious Studies for Trombone or Kopprasch Low Horn Book 1 down an octave.

Mine was a bruised and split lip from trauma, so I could only wait it out. The body and lip especially, is crazy resilient!

Be kind and PATIENT with yourself – it’s a long journey!

But whatever the case may be, don’t come back fully too soon. You will only delay your healing.

And remember, you are not your horn.