Lack of Interest/Motivation

[Bigguy]

I really don’t want to alarm you or any of the members, but I want to share with you my personal experience. Last September I experienced a similar situation. I’ve been playing with the Grand Street Community Band since its inception, three and a half years ago. In September I was not thrilled to start the new cycle as I always had been. I went to rehearsals, played the concert but I felt nothing. For me, that was a huge change. Normally I can well up with emotion several times during any give rehearsal as I find the beauty of the music overwhelming. But all of a sudden I felt nothing. And as many men do, I soldiered on. But for me it was the harbinger of depression. I’d been there before and might have seen the signs but I ignored them. My ennui for the music was a sure indicator.
Other things in my life finally got me back in touch with my doctor and with the proper medication and therapy the core problem (depression) abated. Now I am back to relishing rehearsals and performances again. I have even taken on a bigger role by joining the board. This may be nothing like what you are experiencing but I will be sure that should my passion wane in the future my first call will be to my doctor.
_________________
David
Bach TR300
Schilke 14
The Grand Street Community Band
www.norwaymainevacationhome.com

[Howie J]

So, I hope this can help some or all on this site. I recently started back on the practice trail. I was a slow comeback. I'd practice 35-40 minutes for 4-5 days then be distracted by events, rinse, repeat, etc.

After 2 or 3 days practice made it up to a hour or so...even on C. July 4th weekend came and I left town for a couple days and had a relaxing holiday. Missed 5 days after all was said and done. Had a Warburton PETE with me on vacation and am guilty of using it on the way to the fishing lake.

Anyway...since then, I've pushed the practice. Have some time off so I've made time each day. I also had my C mouthpiece cut for Stomvi Flex Couplers and had my trusty Bb aligned. One of my "comeback" weeks was spent heavily on my C...that's a way to kick your own butt.

Anyway...somehow I've now gone from not wanting to play at all...back to wanting to play damn near 4 hours a day. I have a problem with moderation....I know this...and I'm trying to temper it.

Things that have "excited/interested" me lately: horn alignment, rotating different routines. I added Eric Bolvin's Tongue Level and Air method. I'm balancing that with a number of fundamental studies.

Just yesterday, I started (or continued) a jazz study. I've been up and down on solo/improv studies and have started and stopped on many great methods that I've purchased and/or downloaded.

After fundamentals, articulations and all that, I'm working on a very simple thing. I'm using Jerry Bergonzi's Melodic structures and practicing the 1235 major pattern in each key going around the circle of 5ths and started the 1345 pattern for minors tonight. I'm going to work on those until I can get them to a matching tempo and add a new permutation.

I'm also doing a scale study from http://tamingthesaxophone.com/jazz-diatonic.html Just the first diatonic study. Getting scales "really" under my fingers.

The thing that I love about all this, is that most of the latter stuff is mid range exercises that engages a decent amount of slurs, technicality and style. I'll pound away at the flexes and technical stuff earlier..and then have "fun" with a challenge that reinforces things and forces new skills.....ALL while building chops since the horn is on the face.

Anyway..I'll stop there. Who knows...in three days I'll be ticked at the horn and not look at it for a day or two...but I'm on a roll...and might try and balance it a bit.

Howie J
_________________
Bach Strad 37
Stomvi Mahler Titanium C
Stomvi Elite Picc
Monette B3FS7, B2L, C2S3 cut for Flex Couplers, AP4LD

[miles71]

So an update. Thanks to a few very special people I feel much better about things in general. Musically I feel like playing again and personally I have made some very good relationships I hope can retain for a long time.

Thanks to all, see ya around.
TD
_________________
www.domenicomusic.com

[Scott42486]

Shake things up a bit. Twice in my life I've almost quit playing. Now I know I'll never quit. Any time you find yourself un-motivated, change things. Maybe find different groups to play with, try different styles.

What I do, is whenever I feel funky about playing, I pull out random sheet music to practice that I know I'll never even get to perform. Or I buy new stuff to practice. Sometimes it's just best to play stuff you enjoy until you work through it.
_________________
Bach/Kanstul Frankenhorn
Meeuwsen Mouthpiece tops
Warburton Backbores

[asmith]

I think this is pretty common. We work hard, practice diligently and get involved with ensemble playing at some point. Trumpet section playing gives us something to do, but unless you're a first trumpet or a soloist, it can be deadly because there's no upward path. It is the same thing week after month after year. So we decide to do other things and take a break from these commitments. But we're adults and we can always come back to the groups if we choose. Music is important to me, but there are other things I like to do and I wax and wane over time in the extent of my involvement with groups, not with the trumpet - that remains a constant and I practice daily to maintain my embouchere and explore new playing styles and rhythms. I'm not speaking here of professionals. They have a different level of commitment, but even they are vulnerable to burnout and need balance in their activities to maintain perspective and focus. It is kind of like studying hard for a final and then pushing the books and notes away from you and taking a long look out the window at all the things around and getting out of our own heads for a moment.
_________________
Bach 180ML silver, Bb
Bach 180CL, 239 bell, 'A' leadpipe
Yamaha 631 Flugel
Schilke P5-4, Bb/A
Yamaha 761s D/Eb
Olds Ambassador cornet
Bach 184s cornet, Bb, ML
D.E.G. signature 2000 cornet, LB

[GordonH]

I gave up in February and pulled out of all my playing. It had become like an unpaid second job and cost me a relationship (I was playing principal cornet in a brass band as well as my orchestral playing). My original intention was to take a break from the band and go back after the summer in a less demanding seat. I offered to help out at some of their summer marching gigs, but they never called, and haven't since.

Interestingly, after announcing that I was giving up I had nobody try to dissuade me, but several enquiries from people wanting to buy my instruments! Its a dog-eat-dog world out there.

So now I play a bit in the house - no pressure, and I do a wee bit of home recording for my friends (being very short of cash I can make a birthday recording on CD for them instead of buying things).

I did try a local wind band, but the atmosphere was terrible. I offered to help out local brass bands as a dep on the understanding that I wouldn't ever play in a contest, but they are all heavily competing bands so nothing there.

The local amateur orchestras either use the same small pool of players or they don't play things that require a brass section so there are no opportunities there. They do tend to favour people with music degrees, usually local music teachers, if they need an extra player.

Its all quite depressing really and therefore no surprise that kids learning trumpet at school give up when they leave.

[etc-etc]

Gordon,

Have you thought about forming your own band? Membership fees paid by the musicians, collectable to the director (you).

[DaveH]

I know the feeling, Gordon. While I haven't had all the experiences you mention, I have had several of them and some other ones that would be considered similar.

Having your own band as mentioned above is probably the only real way to control all the circumstances. Then you can play when and how often you want, with whom you want, and the kind of music you want. As the leader/owner. you can determine all the circumstances yourself.

However, I suspect it is like starting and operating any other kind of business. Easy to talk about....doing it successfully may be another matter.

[MrJackson]

Gordon H,
while I don't know the first thing about you or your situation, I DO know the feeling of having put it to bed, especially in the face of unpleasant, un-relentless, and un-winnable obstacles. I just threw up a thread last week about the dilemma I'm facing holding onto fantastic horns that aren't being played, and a year and a half ago, put up a thread about how I never wanted to play trumpet again.

The results for both threads were positive for the most part, but I offer a different take. I was out with my old roommate (also a trumpet player) and after trying to explain why I no longer played, finally resorted to this:

Trumpet playing became something that took, and took, and took, without giving anything back. It cost me a relationship, like yourself, in addition to countless hours of time and energy, and the endless frustration that came from hours upon hours of work with no real benefit.

You do realize what the characteristics of something that takes and takes, while destroying relationships and who you are and in one fell swipe is?
An addiction.

So I don't view my giving up playing as anything to be sorry about; rather, I look at it as breaking a bad habit

So when my friends say "why does it have to be all or nothing", my response it to point to people in AA or people who have quit smoking (myself included): you cant. And there's no shame in that.
_________________
Yamaha Chicago Bb
Yamaha Chicago C
Schilke E3L
Schilke P5-4 B/G

[GordonH]

I think you are right, and I don't think its uncommon.
A guy who lives in my block used to play (he is American and studied trumpet at a US university). He was eventually a professional but had to give up for the same reasons. He now works in banking. I think the adage about playing the trumpet being like building sand castles - every day you have to build them again -is what can lead to a stress like addiction.

Be well!

[scatanas]

[plp]

Am there, doing that. I have had serious dental problems all through December and haven't had it out of the case in almost two months now.


It happens, life happens. Unless you are a gigging pro, it is a hobby that is a major timesuck, especially if you add collecting to the mix. It is probably a good thing to take a break from time to time, and come back with realistic expectations. Some of the greatest peace of mind from playing has come when I KNEW I should suck, and just did it for the shear pleasure. No expectations, just make it as nice as I could. Stay in the middle and lower register, focus on tone above everything else, and play from the heart. So what if you haven't blown a note in two weeks?


If you can't derive pleasure from a hobby on those terms, why do it at all? Set it aside and come back to it when it is fun again.


If you find one thing after the other is falling into the pale mist, these are symptoms of depression as stated above. I have never suffered myself, but have suffered alongside family members my entire life. Just as we all advise finding a good instructor to help us be better trumpet players, find the right professional to help deal with the depression.

A prosperous New Year to all, may God bless.
_________________
Since all other motives—fame, money, power, even honor—are thrown out the window the moment I pick up that instrument..... I play because I love doing it, even when the results are disappointing. In short, I do it to do it.” Wayne Booth

[DaveH]

Everyone is different in terms of interest, motivation, goals, expectations, extent of contentment with their level of ability, reasons for playing the instrument, etc. In my opinion, even age can be a factor. For most people, perspectives and priorities tend to change with age. At 60 years old, I don't think or prioritize the same way I did when I was 20.

It stands to reason that full time professionals, or those aspiring to be such, would have a different attitude toward this subject than those for whom the term "hobbyist" might apply.

I had a different attitude when I was performing regularly and in public, and when I had higher aspirations in general about being a trumpet player, and the part that the trumpet played in my life at the time.

Nowadays, I have a different attitude because I am not performing and have reached an age where my goals and interests do not include trumpet performing. Naturally, I no longer experience any stress about what I can or can't do.

However, I would be concerned if playing the trumpet and the word "addiction" were to be used in the same sentence.

[EdMann]

I came back to this thread after hearing about some comebackers who have gone off the trail, stopped in their tracks, fell off the saddle (apologies for the torrent of western references, but I've been watching too many John Huston pictures). Of course there's more to life than news, weather and horns, but what's a hobby/avocation if you don't keep it up? I don't know too many triathelete enthusiasts who run every once in a while or swim when the weather's warm.

As for being older, I would hope that priorities would clarify and include the personal satisfaction of an hour of practice to hone a skill in which you're remiss. Nothing is more fun for me than hanging with kids twenty years younger than I, devoted to the horn, totally, and mutualy digging the music, or laughing it up with guys like it's bowling night and playing gigs for appreciative listeners. Sorry, that's a priority right next to work, kids and wife, and they tend to dig watching me dig it. I ain't giving that up for nothin'

ed

[lownote]

This is an old thread, but I've noticed something similar with me recently in my comeback. In terms of the vortex concept, I'm sure I'm seeing with myself recently. Advice I've heard calls it "the monkey trap", i.e. the monkey reaches in for a banana, can't pull the banana out, then gets trapped because it won't let go. Yet if the monkey lets go, that banana which the monkey let go of turns out not to be the last banana in the world, but instead, there could be a tree full of bananas 50 feet away. That imagery is working for me when I stick to it. Maybe if there's any way you can let go of the vortex rather than trying to pull yourself out, you might find that certain flood of energy to keep you playing, my $.02.

[jhatpro]

Golf: it'll make you come running back to your horn.
_________________
Jim Hatfield
Glen Ellyn, Illinois

"Unfortunately, music is not my first language."

[richardwy]

Yes, Jim!

Fore!!
_________________
Richard Oliver
Bach AB190
Schilke B1
Bach C180L 239 25H
Bach 3's: 3, B, & C
Getzen Capri Cornet
Curry 3BBC
Wick 4

[trumpetlink]

For those considering a break or who have stopped playing but may want to play again in the future:

Keep practicing/playing/listening everyday even if its just 5 min warm up and playing 5 min of music and listening to 5 min of trumpet music. The 15 min investment makes a huge difference, and even my hardest days I can still find 15 minutes to invest.

Find out want inspired you to to quit playing if possible.

Nothing inspires me more to quit playing when I have a band rehearsal and not practice or play again until the next rehearsal. Eventually I stop going to the rehearsal (from frustration) and I already stopped practicing.