Our minds can be our greatest ally and our biggest impediment, for sure.
If we have a great state of mind when playing, we can sometimes overcome physical limitations / problems (i.e. coming back after a hard day playing), and vice versa–we can halt our progress or go backwards by focusing on results only and manipulating to achieve those results.
Some days, just aren’t good days…like yesterday, my chops were just weird. It happens. They can’t all be great days sequentially better than yesterday.
Today, was amazingly good–it felt like my embouchure just fell into place as I ascended and backed off the air, and when I gave more air my sound was resonant.
It felt like very little engagement was necessary, even up above High C to my max range, etc.
I’m realizing more and more how relaxed I can play.