Many players, myself included in years past, often fall into a mental trap when it comes to what defines real practice, thinking that the only thing that really counts is whether you're actively playing your instrument during study or not. This is a huge mistake, because some of the most creative pursuits, such as arranging, composing, and transcribing, have little to do with a physical workout, yet yield results that cannot be attained without steady attention to these all-important areas. I learned long ago to treasure the non-physical side of playing. In the long run, you simply become a superior musician./QM