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Okay. Be totally honest here.
After a protracted hiatus from playing, for whatever reason, how long does it normally take you to get back into shape so you can play up to "your personal acceptable" level of performance? I know this is a loaded and broad question, and not everyone is going to play at the same level. Additionally, I'm not speaking of solo work per se, but rather playing in some type of ensemble where you aren't the only tuba player...... being a contributing and productive member of the tuba section.

Also: Feel free to expound on what you do to get back to "your personal acceptable" level of performance.

Just curious........

Speaking strictly for myself, I took a 25 year hiatus, decided to “come back” as something to do during the pandemic, having found an excellent buy on a horn (I had sold mine a long time ago. Wish I still had it!). It took me 2 months before I got in good enough shape to make an acceptable sound. I didn’t feel confident enough to join a community band until a little over a year after that.

My break was about 13 years with picking up my horn maybe once a year. It really only took a couple weeks of practicing to be able to keep up in an hour and a half rehearsal. Endurance was low and still is, a year and a half later. But I'm still not playing enough. However, I'm 43 not 63. I'm sure that makes a big difference also.

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Look up your local TubaChistmas. Get the book and the CD and learn the second tuba part. Fun way to get back in and to meet others.

CCC

When I came back to tuba summer of 22, after about five years off -- it took a couple months of very relaxed playing duets a couple times a week. When I got to play tuba for that polka band October of 22, that really got the low range and air going. Rejoining the brass band presented some challenging music and I feel like I've improved over even what I used to be able to do, although I still get stuck on not knowing what valves are what notes when sight reading fast music, because most of my playing was on a CC before I got the Star.