Tuesday 5 February 2008

Michael Brecker: On Practicing

Michael Brecker interviewed by Bret Primack in 1996

Brecker has some excellent tips and advice, although myself, I hesitate to use the word 'practice' in this context, because it is not right, and words have power over our perceptions; 'practice' is what you do on the stage, as a doctor practices medicine, practice is the application of what you know on others.

On the other hand, what we do in the solitude of our own sound-play is perhaps a self-practice (Physician heal thyself!) but more correctly it is 'exercise', clearly in the classical gymnasium sense of toning and extending the mind and body so as to be fit for the practice. So I'm delighted to hear Michael Brecker describe his exercise regime as part learning, part keeping fit, and part just plain play.