Another Comeback Player

[llangston1]

I am another comeback player and thought I would say hello to the forum. I enjoy reading all the posts and certainly wish we had this capability back when I played. My time away from playing is almost 46 years. I played trumpet in Jr High and Sr High school bands until I graduated in May 1970. I put my horn in the closet and there it has sat all these years. Two weeks ago my grandkids asked about my trumpet for some reason so I brought it out to show them and caught the bug to play it again. My horn is a '67 Olds Recording with a Schilke 12 mouthpiece. After a little buzzing I managed to still play a C scale and even managed a open valve Taps once. LOL. I still have my old Belwin Elementary Band method book from Jr high and my Arban"s and another old Cornet song book from back then. I lost my old Herb Alpert and TJB collection song book from the 60s. I have been practicing long tones with the band method book and buzzing the MP when I have time and now while the horn is in the shop for some needed maintenance. I gave it a good bath per all the internet videos but the third valve continued to be a little sticky due to some possible corrosion in the valve case ( rust coloration on the valve case walls toward the bottom near the valve cap). I decided to let the tech fix it and some other minor items. I would be interested in recommendations for any other beginner or comeback music books I could use. I have been using many of the youtube videos that are available as I practice and buzz my MP while my horn is in the shop. My goals would be to try and at least get back to where I was in HS and be able to play easy trumpet pieces like TJB and some modern music. Right now my playing would be for private and not public consumption. I look forward to any suggestions or recommendations from the forum.

[seilogramp]

[ClassicSki]

Welcome back to the music room. We are pretty close in comeback years. I left school in 1976. Recently, about 7 yrs? Ago? Thrift store was selling an old conn director and I tryed to play a note and I was surprised I DID!

So that got me going. I bought it and I kinda fiddle around with it. I bought a blessing cornet and play that too. You can read my journal here, "pathway of duty".

Once again, welcome.
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This is my recovery. Out of the ring and into the music room.

Tristar pocket trumpet
Old Conn director trumpet
Military bugle

Blessing XLCR Cornet- XLCR H30339

[MichaelMcCrary]

I also played through JrHS and HS, sold my Selmer cornet in early '66 to finance a cheap wedding band. Wife left in '70. I picked up the trumpet in 05. and started in a community band. I would suggest a private teacher and join a join a community band. Check to see if there is a New Horizons band in you area.
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michael
Selmer Radial
Selmer K-Modified - Trumpet and Cornet
Selmer Paris Flugelhorn
Martin Handcrafted Dansant

and a few more

[ClassicSki]

When I bought that ole' Conn, I looked around and there was nothing. I did find on the net New Horizon, maybe I need to try working on that again.

We do have community orchestra and another community band. Things to rekindle my interest.

For now practice.
_________________
This is my recovery. Out of the ring and into the music room.

Tristar pocket trumpet
Old Conn director trumpet
Military bugle

Blessing XLCR Cornet- XLCR H30339

[Dennis78]

Best thing to do is as soon as you feel comfortable, join a community band
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a few different ones

[telebuck]

Welcome to the club!

I agree that the internets is an incredible resource for us comeback players, and that I wish it had been around 40 years ago. But better late than never.

My layoff was 30 years, following jr and high school playing. I have been back at it for a little over a year. I surpassed my high school playing in about 6 months of steady practice (about an hour a day on average). Two keys were joining a community band (started on 3rd part, now on 2nd, and fill in on 1st occasionally when others don't show up) and taking some private lessons. The community band gives me a reason for practicing, while the main thing about the lessons was getting me into a daily routine (long tones, clarke, lip slurs, schlossberg, bends, double and triple tonguing, other stuff), which it sounds like you have started. My routine is based on Adam's (my teacher was one of his students). The Adams folder here on the herald describes this method, and may have links to free versions online.

An Arban's book would be very useful to get, as it seems to be the trumpeters bible, covering all the fundamentals of playing, and also has songs of varying difficulty.

Have fun with it, and be sure to play some actual music from time to time!
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Bach Artisan AB190
Yamaha Shew 8310Z
1927 Conn 2b New World Symphony

[gwood66]

Good luck with your comeback. As the others have said, the internet along with this and other trumpet forums is an excellent resource. I started out with the first 10 exercises in The Embouchure Builder by Lowell Little (based on some posts I read here) and Clarke Technical Studies studies 1 and 2. Once I got to the point I was playing in the staff comfortably I added some etudes/exercises from Clarke Elementary Studies. That got me through my first 2 1/2 to 3 months.

[seilogramp]

The InterTubes is a great source for information and tips on how to get back your trumpet mojo. However, you have to be careful. There is sooooo much out there. So I suggest mostly sticking with the basics (Clarke, Arban's) until you think you are ready for something else. Although, one never is done with Clarke or Arban's, no matter what your level is, IMO. Again, an instructor could guide the way for you.
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Phil M.
1971 Schilke C1L
1981 Schilke P5-4
1972 Getzen Eterna 900S

[Comeback]

Welcome back to trumpet playing. Our circumstances are quite similar. I began my comeback in 2011: still at it and no regrets. Best wishes to you in your comeback!

Jim

[dstdenis]

Welcome back!

I think the Arban book might be too strenuous initially. Comeback players (and beginners) need to start easy and build a foundation before tackling more difficult material.

I suggest you get a copy of 100 Progressive Lessons for Trumpet for the Beginning or Comeback Player, by David Hickman. It starts much easier than Arban. Each lesson has a good mixture of material, including two etudes, a melodic tune to practice musical expression and style, and a technical study. Spend a week or more on each lesson to come back gradually.

This approach would give you fun material that's within reach so you avoid hurting yourself or getting frustrated by trying to play difficult material before you're ready.
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Bb Yamaha Xeno 8335IIS
Cornet Getzen Custom 3850S
Flugelhorn Courtois 155R
Piccolo Stomvi

[mhendricks]

Congratulations on your Comeback!!!

There's lot of info at this site that will help you and keep you interested...

http://mphmusic.com/blog

And the facebook page at...

http://facebook.com/mphmusicdotcom

Here's the best tip advice for a comeback trumpet player...

http://mphmusic.com/blog/trumpet/one-very-important-tip-for-the-comeback-trumpet-player/

And remember, have fun!!!

Best,
Mark
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For info on all of Mark's books and more visit: www.MPHmusic.com

[llangston1]

What is a reasonably priced source of intermediate level modern music for a comeback player? Several bucks for one sheet music song DL from the internet can get a little steep for a retiree. Are the Hal Leonard collections pretty good. I am getting bored with all the Mary had a little lamb and other tunes for elementary bands I have collected but I am not all that interested in the Arban's etudes either. Any suggestions?

[zaferis]

I think it depends a little of what kind of playing you like to do..

For starters look at Walter Beeler Method for Cornet/Trumpet book 2.. these books have a nice mix of etudes, scales, and studies and won't cost you much more than 10 bucks and are a bit more adult friendly... at least this would be a good text to start with and if you haven't seen them, new stuff to attack.

Then pair this text with a routine that includes things like Chicowitz Flow Studies, Clarke Studies and then music that you like to play or are involved with (solo, church/band music, etc)
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Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman

[Croquethed]

I found "I Used To Play Trumpet" by Larry Clark (Carl Fischer) a great get-my-feet-wet again book. It has long tones, short warm-up section, scales, and tunes from Bach to Glenn Miller to Eddie Money. Hal Leonard's Best of the Beatles was also good at start.

There is no rule of thumb, really. I did not join a community band. I did not get a teacher. I did follow my tastes and ended up learning a lot more about improvising riffs off blues scales and basic patterns like the 1-3-5-6-7b boogie woogie and I-IV-V 12-bar blues. I very rarely use any kind of printed material now. I play 30-60 minutes nearly every day, and trumpet playing, like running, has become something that I simply can't go more than 2-3 days in a row without getting very cranky.

And I've been very patient. At upper end, I am comfortable with expanding my range by no more than 1-2 notes a year, now at D above high C.

Play so it becomes an enjoyable part of your day. I had enough "gotta do my Arban" when I was 16. Never again.

[louii]

Welcome back.

I too am a comeback player - after 30 years.

I found getting involved with a local band important to keep my interest from waning. It also helps that my daughter plays trumpet (she plays with a startup band called the Buffalo Brass Machine, as well as the University at Buffalo bands). If you don't have offspring you can practice with, I'd suggest finding someone else who enjoys playing duets. Bottom line, find a band, create or encourage offspring to learn the trumpet, or find a buddy with whom to practice. Unfortunately the second option is the most fun but not always immediately practical. Otherwise there's a good chance your interest will wane as mine did the myriad of times I tried to 'comeback'. This time however, my getting involved with other players has kept me on track.

I find Clarks and Arban's have enough material to keep me challenged and interested.

Good luck! And don't give it up.
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Louii
Bach Stradivarius 37 Bb circa 1971
Ibanez Artist Banjo

[royjohn]

Hi llangston1,

I'm also a comebacker...quit in 1966 in HS and started back about 2002. As far as song books, I would suggest you google for Fake Books. These are large (1000 songs) collections of songs which usually give just the chorus in melody and guitar chords, along with the words. There are many of these and you should be able to find one with lots of songs from your youth. I see that some are advertised on the 'Net with the contents shown.

Since the vocal line is given, it usually runs from about low C to E on top of the treble clef, an easy range for practicing. When you get better, you can take some songs up an octave for practice. Many of these are available in different keys, so you can get a Bb edition and if you have an accompanist, you can get a C edition for them...or an Eb edition for instruments in that key. If you get to learning some harmony, you can use the chords as a takeoff for improvising.

I just checked ebay and there are 800 listings for "fakebook."

Enjoy your comeback!
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royjohn
Trumpets: 1928 Holton Llewellyn Model, 1957 Holton 51LB, 2010 Custom C by Bill Jones, 2011 Custom D/Eb by Bill Jones
Flugels: 1975 Olds Superstar, 1970's Elkhardt, 1970's Getzen 4 valve
Cornet: 1970's Yamaha YCR-233S . . . and others . . .

[gwood66]

I spent the first few weeks of my comeback trying to play through various exercise books that were too advanced for my chops. Based on a few posts I read here on TH I purchased The Embouchure Builder by Lowell Little. I think it really helped the first few months. I switched to Irons 27 Groups of Exercises when I start studying with John Mohan.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Embouchure-Builder-Lowell-Little/dp/0769223060

[GeorgeB]

[steveleblanc]