If you kids want to hear from someone who has really let the trombone
gather dust, I'm 54 and last played regularly in high school. Well, I
guess I could say I played semi-regularly when we had a bunch of guys
who got together once a month for beer and music and I starting
bringing the 'bone, but that group faded several years ago.

One of the problems with the whole job-kids-house thing is that time
for practicing gets ever more scarce, especially if the job has
nothing to do with music. I finally decided that if nothing else, I
can work on my embouchure, and I started keeping a spare mouthpiece
in
the car to work out with on part of my commute to or from work. Turns
out the embouchure was the least of my worries, though I can
certainly
improve there; similar to your experience, Matt, I found the stamina
was all but gone. I'm winded after a short session. But that's OK--I
figure I can get it back, or enough of it, and count it as part of
the
aerobic workouts I also need and don't have time for.

Rich Stewart
Chicago