Changing It Up

I've been trying a new routine lately when I start my practice, inspired by a segment I heard on NPR called "The Art of Practicing," if I remember that correctly. The program features various professional musicians and how they practice. The one I heard featured a bassist with the NY Phil, and I must admit that at first I was pretty disappointed. I was going to hear a world-class bassist rip through some crazy scale routine or an etude that is nearly impossible, but no. He set a drone to a C# and played a C# minor scale slowly. Talk about a change of perspective.
I've been starting my practice like that since, and it's ready amazing how much it's helped. It's certainly improving my flute and piccolo playing, but it's even helping my clarinet and sax playing!