My Practice Sessions: Bria Skonberg
Bria Skonberg is an internationally recognized jazz trumpeter, vocalist, and bandleader.
What is your daily warm-up routine?
My daily warm-up starts with coffee. 🙂 Honestly getting hydrated at the start of the day is essential to playing throughout, so I drink several glasses of water and coffee as I prepare for the day. I have approximately an hour-long warm-up routine that addresses air support, embouchure, articulation/flexibility, and dexterity in that order with varying exercises that help me assess where they are at and work through any stiffness. Once comfortable I will incrementally challenge each of those areas and layer them together. Then I’m ready to make music!
How long has this warm-up been a part of your practice sessions?
I’ve been developing it for a few years but have been focusing on it more as a method over the last 4 months.
Do you have any non-music related routines such as meditation or exercise to help prepare you for your daily warm-up?
I have three “T’s” I try to address every day for balance, the first being Trumpet (practice). #2 is Training. Regular exercise has always been a priority for me and I focus on cardiovascular to get my heart rate up and lungs working, equally for the mind as for the body. #3 is Trust, which means reaching out to friends or family to maintain relationships. There is no set order to when each should occur in a day as every day is different. The hidden “T” that will knock out at least one of those is “Travel” as days on the road don’t often give you the flexibility of time or space, but I will do my best to get back on track as soon as possible.
What apps or products do you use to aid in your practice sessions?
I’ve recently started using the Modacity app which I love for keeping me on track as when one task is completed it immediately moves to the next and starts the clock. It has a built-in metronome and drone, and the ability to make notes where I mark bpms and rate my progress.
Is there anything else you would like to add that would be beneficial to other musicians?
When you practice, remove all judgment of your playing and simply notice what is happening. Instead of thinking “that sounds terrible!” ask yourself “where am I holding tension?” Be patient with the process, and be your own honest teacher. Find OR CREATE exercises that isolate and address your problem areas. You are the expert on you.
