Trumpet gunk stains are more complicated than your average oil stain. They contain at least three different substances (gross) and they’re often more than one color.

In terms of my playing, I expected this to be a breeze.

It hasn't been.

“Tension is the enemy.” We nod in agreement.

We practice the art of burning the candle at both ends. We’ll sleep when we’re dead. When asked how we’ve been, the knee-jerk response is, “Busy.” We hoard stress, offloading tiny bits at a time, Googling relaxation techniques and meditation so we can function just well enough to shoulder the next item on a list that never ends. It’s no surprise that “tension is the enemy.”

Is it, though?

Maybe you’ve been in the student’s place before. Maybe you’re the teacher with your hands in the air. Could be both.

You finally set eyes on that shiny little thing hanging on the wall of the shop. You know the one. You’ve been low-key stalking it on the internet for a while. The light from the fluorescent tubes overhead catches the bell just right. It starts with a few casual licks. The air is thick with the heady fumes of petroleum and silver polish. You’ve only just met, but you’re swept up in the whirlwind. Before you know it, your bank account is a few grand lighter and it’s riding home in the back seat of your car. The next morning, you enjoy a lazy breakfast, buzz a little, then go back for round two. Something isn’t right. The spark is gone, and it feels nothing like it did yesterday. What have you done?

Really. Don’t skip this step.