My Practice Sessions: Yves Bauer

Yves Bauer is the Bass Trombonist for the Orchestre National de Lille.

What time do you begin your first practice session?
When I have a rehearsal, I try to be there one hour before that begins.

What is your daily warm-up routine?
Every warm-up, I begin with long tones in the mouthpiece alone and try to find the easiest vibration! After, with the trombone, I play flexibilities from Bb to lower notes slowly and progressively! The third thing is staccato notes – I begin with the low F on scales and upped a semitone every time etc.

How long has this warm-up been a part of your practice sessions?
I change a lot of little things, but the basics stay almost similar for many years!

How long is your warm-up routine?
It depends on what I have to play! Often between 30 and 45 minutes.

What part of your warm-up do you look forward to the most?
Every time when I begin it’s very difficult for me to find a good feeling. When I find my sound and the ease after a short time, that’s the best moment.

What time of day do you generally practice?
I often practice in the morning but I have a better feeling after lunch.

Do you have a strict time limit for each practice session?
My time limit depends on my feeling. If I feel tired I’ll do a break or stop the session! That’s maybe the most important thing I changed over recent years.

Do you have any non-music related routines such as meditation or exercise to help prepare you for your daily warm-up?
Every day I do yoga exercises and breathing exercises.

Is there anything else you would like to add that would be beneficial to other musicians?
Every morning I think “I am a lucky man: I am a musician [doing] the most beautiful work in the world.” That helps me to be happy and practice with pleasure.