Have you ever hiked up a mountain?

It’s exhilarating on both ends and maddening in the middle.

The beginning is great. You’ve just gotten started and you’re full of energy (and Clif bars). Let’s do this!

This idea is huge in the music world:

While playing your instrument, keep your mind focused on what you want to sound like and the mechanics will take care of themselves.

In other words, it’s best to focus on making music and let our brains figure out the most efficient way to execute what we hear in our heads. Thinking about physical maneuvers and mechanics is just getting in your own way.

Okay, fellow musicians: I’m going to try to convince you to take more notes.

At lessons, at concerts, and especially at masterclasses.

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to get an hour on the phone with Chris Tedesco.

Chris is one of the busiest trumpeters in Los Angeles, and you’ve heard his playing whether you realize it or not. He’s on Finding Nemo, American Idol, Homeland, and countless other productions.

Within a practice session, when is it time to move on to the next passage?

When it’s perfect, right?

Well, what does perfect mean?

• C. Northcote Parkinson In other words, we humans will take as much time as we can to complete a task. Not just that, but the longer we take, the more complex the task becomes.

Once you become aware of Parkinson’s Law, you start to see it everywhere.

Last Monday, I undertook a challenge to blog every day for a week. This is my seventh and final post, and it’s been quite an experience. Here’s what I’ve learned!

Two truths:

1. Most of us avoid risk.

2. Every new and exciting experience that makes our lives richer is risky.

• Jacob Riis I’m almost five years into my journey back to healthy trumpet playing, and as I look back on the whole experience, I see a series of breakthroughs.

How important is it to practice every day?

When is it okay to skip?