Yes, Practicing is a Way of Life!

So, you are so very busy with school, writing, day-gig, road band, relationships, the list goes on, and on, and on... And because of all of this, you just really don't have the time right now to practice and keep your chops up. But the world will understand and cut you some slack right? Hey, your band director always did! Well, here is a classic joke from the real world that may illuminate the subject a bit.  Enjoy!

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Bob runs into Dave in Manhattan and says: "Hey Dave, it must be all 
of 20 years since I saw you last. I was playing trombone then".

Dave: "Yes I remember that".

Bob: "Of course I've moved on since then. I started writing for 
that band".

Dave: "Really. I never heard about that".

Bob: Yes my charts worked out really well and pretty soon I was being
commissioned to write charts for the Kenton, Herman, Ellington and 
Basie bands too".

Dave: "Really. I never heard about that".

Bob: Yes, many of my charts were recorded and I was nominated three  times for a Grammy award".

Dave: "Really. I never heard about that".

Bob: Eventually John Williams invited me to come and work as his
orchestrator in Hollywood.

Dave: "Really. I never heard about that".

Bob: "I was soon in demand as a feature movie composer and 
nominated for two Oscars".

Dave: "Really. I never heard about that. So tell me, what are you 
doing back here in New York?"

Bob: "I just wanted to revisit some of my old haunts. I've been 
sitting in on some jam sessions down in the Village".

Dave: "Really"?

Bob: "Yes, but I've been so much in demand for my writing work that my trombone chops have suffered a little. I played two solos last 
night, but they weren't very good".

Dave: Yes, I heard about that.