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Good morning from St. Paul Minnesota


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tomcherv
Regular Member


Joined: 10 May 2016
Posts: 33
Location: Saint Paul, MN

PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2016 4:26 am    Post subject: Good morning from St. Paul Minnesota Reply with quote

First post on forum.

To me, music is such a multi component art. You have the physical, technical, and artistic skills that all come together. I've never stopped playing, but lately it's been mostly the piano. I do, for some strange reason, tap my fingers when I listen to music, but I tap trumpet fingerings (using my pinky or 1-3 for open).

I've only been playing trumpet only 2 or 3 times a year at church for the last 10 years, but I decided I really want to get my chops back in shape. I'm able to get through the entire service, but that's about it. And my high register usually disappears during the last song.

I still play my Bb Benge that my parents purchased for me in 1979 as a freshman in high school. And my birthday present was a Benge piccolo (that I found on ebay - it's in good shape).

My hope is to be able to play the Hayden and Hummel Trumpet concertos once again (First movement on each - my solos for state competition my junior and senior year in high school). I'm also looking at community bands or orchestras in the area to see if there is one I'd like to join - there's a bunch in the area

Lots of great advice on this site - there is a lot of reading to be done here.

Tom
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Tom
St. Paul, MN

Benge Bb
Benge Piccolo
Buescher Flugelhorn


Last edited by tomcherv on Wed May 11, 2016 4:41 am; edited 1 time in total
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tptptp
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 25 Oct 2001
Posts: 1408
Location: Georgia

PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2016 4:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome to Trumpet Herald. There are many comeback players who participate on this site. Don't you just love this rewarding and frustrating pursuit?
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Craig Mitchell
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corsair
Veteran Member


Joined: 29 Aug 2006
Posts: 135

PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2016 6:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome, I too, am from St.Paul.
Been in comeback mode for several years now. Where are you located?
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tomcherv
Regular Member


Joined: 10 May 2016
Posts: 33
Location: Saint Paul, MN

PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2016 7:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I work downtown and live not too far from Como Park.
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Tom
St. Paul, MN

Benge Bb
Benge Piccolo
Buescher Flugelhorn
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rockford
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 2477
Location: Northern VA

PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2016 7:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome aboard! Lots of folks here with a wide variety of skills and motivations. Hope you enjoy it.
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Bill Siegfried
NY/Mt. Vernon Bach trumpets. Yamaha flugelhorn and piccolo A/Bb, Monette and Hammond mouthpieces. Fender and Peavey Cirrus Bass Guitars. Ampeg and Genz-Benz amps. Embraer 170/175/190.
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gwood66
Veteran Member


Joined: 05 Jan 2016
Posts: 301
Location: South of Chicago

PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2016 1:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome to the comeback community.
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corsair
Veteran Member


Joined: 29 Aug 2006
Posts: 135

PostPosted: Thu May 12, 2016 4:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

White Bear area for me now.
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tomcherv
Regular Member


Joined: 10 May 2016
Posts: 33
Location: Saint Paul, MN

PostPosted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 8:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well - I contacted a community band.

My younger son is a French horn player, but his high school schedule won't allow him to continue in band anymore. But he still wants to play. I signed him up for his private lessons again, and he would be playing in the community band; he's actually the reason I contacted them.

Looking forward to playing more frequently, and sharing this with my son.
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Tom
St. Paul, MN

Benge Bb
Benge Piccolo
Buescher Flugelhorn
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Grits Burgh
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 04 Oct 2015
Posts: 805
Location: South Carolina

PostPosted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 9:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tom,

I graduated from the U of M and lived in St. Paul, just south of Como Park. I doubt that I would recognize the place now. When I was going to school I did not find too many opportunities to play outside of church. I am glad to hear that opportunities have increased. As a winter hobby, playing trumpet beats bicycling hands down.

I started my comeback exactly one year ago. I don't have time yet to practice every day and when I do practice, it is seldom for more than an hour. Still, every now and then there is a spark of hope in what comes out of the bell.

Keep us updated on your progress.

Grits
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Bach Stradivarius 37 (1971)
Schilke HC 1
Getzen 3810 C Cornet
King Master Bb Cornet (1945)
B&S 3145 Challenger I Series Flugelhorn
Life is short; buy every horn you want and die happy.
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GeorgeB
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Joined: 20 Apr 2016
Posts: 1063
Location: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia

PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 7:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi, Tom, welcome.
Losing ones range after playing an hour or so isn't too unusual for someone who is only playing the trumpet occasionally, but it seems you want to change that so now the hard work starts: long tones, lip slurs, scales, etc. It will come back to you. It came back to me after a 50 plus year layoff.

Best wishes and good luck on your journey.

George
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GeorgeB
1960s King Super 20 Silversonic
2016 Manchester Brass Custom
1938-39 Olds Recording
1942 Buescher 400 Bb trumpet
1952 Selmer Paris 21 B
1999 Conn Vintage One B flat trumpet
2020 Getzen 490 Bb
1962 Conn Victor 5A cornet
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tomcherv
Regular Member


Joined: 10 May 2016
Posts: 33
Location: Saint Paul, MN

PostPosted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 6:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've been to two rehearsals, so far. As I'm new, and need to get back into playing, I took the 3rd part. The band actually sounds pretty good.

My son was able to make the last rehearsal and he enjoyed himself. He was by himself last week, but I know there are two other FHorn players, and possibly four.

I'm one of 6(?) trumpets.

Each rehearsal is 90 minutes and I've made it all the way through so far.

Looking forward to seeing how this goes.
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Tom
St. Paul, MN

Benge Bb
Benge Piccolo
Buescher Flugelhorn
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GeorgeB
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Joined: 20 Apr 2016
Posts: 1063
Location: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia

PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 2:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good for you.
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GeorgeB
1960s King Super 20 Silversonic
2016 Manchester Brass Custom
1938-39 Olds Recording
1942 Buescher 400 Bb trumpet
1952 Selmer Paris 21 B
1999 Conn Vintage One B flat trumpet
2020 Getzen 490 Bb
1962 Conn Victor 5A cornet
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tomcherv
Regular Member


Joined: 10 May 2016
Posts: 33
Location: Saint Paul, MN

PostPosted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 4:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Had the first concert yesterday. It was a one hour concert at an assisted living complex, 10 songs.

At 5 minutes to the start, I was still the only trumpet. In my head I'm going "Oh s**t - am I going to have to play first?" Fortunately, one other player came who was familiar with the 1st parts.

Still, I had never played nor even heard three of the songs. And I ended up sight reading the second part on everything.

Still, it was a lot of my. My son enjoyed playing his French horn. He had it worse than I - he was playing about five songs for the first time.
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Tom
St. Paul, MN

Benge Bb
Benge Piccolo
Buescher Flugelhorn
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WxJeff
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Joined: 10 Dec 2002
Posts: 2484
Location: Atlanta GA

PostPosted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 5:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glad you had fun.

Acoustics can be interesting in the "big room" that many places like this use for activities. A friend played in a similar setting and shared that one of the residents (possibly dealing with dementia, or possibly not) spent the entire performance yelling over and over "Too loud!! Too loud!!"
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Kanstul F Besson International 800 Bb
Jupiter SCR-520
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tomcherv
Regular Member


Joined: 10 May 2016
Posts: 33
Location: Saint Paul, MN

PostPosted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm well aware of acoustical challenges.

We were actually outside. They placed in a court yard. We played toward the connecting section between two wings while behind us wild turkeys were roaming just outside the woods next to the train tracks. (No trains during the concert.)
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Tom
St. Paul, MN

Benge Bb
Benge Piccolo
Buescher Flugelhorn
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WxJeff
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Joined: 10 Dec 2002
Posts: 2484
Location: Atlanta GA

PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 8:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Excellent! Anybody happen to grab a picture or two? Sounds like a fun playing environment.
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tomcherv
Regular Member


Joined: 10 May 2016
Posts: 33
Location: Saint Paul, MN

PostPosted: Tue Jan 24, 2017 7:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So, several months in, now.

Even though I'm still not playing every day, my endurance and range is coming back. The band rehearses 90 minutes once a week with about 1 concert a month.

Christmas at church was much easier - I felt comfortable through the entire service, and my upper register was not only present the entire time, it was controlled in volume, pitch, etc.

I've added another challenge: starting tomorrow, pit orchestra rehearsals start for "Wizard of Oz" - our church does a major musical every year, and I decided to return to the pit. (I played for "Joseph and . . . Dreamcoat" about 11 years ago.

For those in the Saint Paul area, Sunday April 30 is BandWidth Music Festival, a showcase of community bands from the area. There are currently six scheduled to play. Last year featured three new pieces, and the band I'm in has commissioned a new piece for their 25th anniversary.
(http://www.lexhamarts.org/band/BandWidth/BandWidth.htm)

Lots of fun, and new challenges, but I've really been enjoying playing my horn more frequently.
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Tom
St. Paul, MN

Benge Bb
Benge Piccolo
Buescher Flugelhorn
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GeorgeB
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Joined: 20 Apr 2016
Posts: 1063
Location: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia

PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 4:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great news. Congratulations.
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GeorgeB
1960s King Super 20 Silversonic
2016 Manchester Brass Custom
1938-39 Olds Recording
1942 Buescher 400 Bb trumpet
1952 Selmer Paris 21 B
1999 Conn Vintage One B flat trumpet
2020 Getzen 490 Bb
1962 Conn Victor 5A cornet
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tomcherv
Regular Member


Joined: 10 May 2016
Posts: 33
Location: Saint Paul, MN

PostPosted: Thu Feb 15, 2018 2:15 pm    Post subject: A Year (almost) later Reply with quote

I've continued to play and have been having lots of fun.

Just finished playing in the pit orchestra this year at the church for "The Borrowed Tomb".

OK - this part was high. High, as in half the notes were F at the top of the staff or above. Never did get the high E, but managed the C#s and Ds.

It was fun music and I'm still humming the music to myself.

My son also played his horn for the musical, and on those songs/parts of songs where trumpets did not play, I took one of the horn parts with my Flugel.

I like this music thing.
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Tom
St. Paul, MN

Benge Bb
Benge Piccolo
Buescher Flugelhorn
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starkadder
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 01 May 2008
Posts: 542

PostPosted: Thu Feb 15, 2018 2:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Word of advice if you live in MSP: if you leave you horn overnight in your car, warm the mouthpiece before you put it to your chops.
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