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dkmatthews New Member
Joined: 27 Mar 2021 Posts: 7 Location: Charlotte NC
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Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 7:26 pm Post subject: Comeback player for the last 10 years but... |
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Hello folks. This is my first post on TH.
I suppose I've been a comeback player for the last 10 years or so. That was after a 20 year layoff.
But, I'm getting up in years and my embouchure isn't what it used to be. Even worse, there seem to be fewer and fewer opportunities for a decent amateur player to play (even for free). All of the churches are hiring our local symphony orchestra brass players (which is great for them!) to play the Christmas, Easter & wedding services. The only regular call for my service has been the occasional event with Bugles Across America.
So, with that I'm going to sell off several horns. Most of my horns are probably not especially valuable but are interesting to me for one reason or another. The one trumpet I will definitely keep is the Bach Strad 37 that I bought in the 1980s with money from mowing lawns during the summers in junior high school. That horn has traveled many miles and been on the field at many stadiums for high school and university football games, so it stays.
Any other amateurs out there who simply don't have the opportunity to play anymore? What have you done, other than giving up playing?
Kind regards... |
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Brassnose Heavyweight Member
Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 2047 Location: Germany
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Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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That is an interesting question. I have played for 40 years with a 12 year layoff when I was working towards the job I really wanted. I am not much of a collector so never had many horns, essentially those in the signature.
I am not a pro (by far) but have played in bands that would actually be paid for their gigs and most of my music stuff was then funded through this money.
At the moment I am (not) playing in our community orchestra and while the not playing part was fine in 2020 and I would practice at home, 2021 feels a lot different.
With the situation as it is, there is no short term solution, but there will be times when we all can play again and that is what I will do:
1. go to orchestra rehearsals again
2. start a trumpet quartet or quintet. I have been discussing this with a colleague from the orchestra for quite some time. We want something small and flexible where we can just go out and play for half an hour or an hour and go home happy.
3. start a brass band along the lines of No BS or McNasty Boys or the like (on our level, that is). This is in the works with a sax player and we‘ll see if this materializes - been discussing the „how to“ with my teacher as well and drawing from past experience in similar bands. The goal is as in 2.
So, to make a long story short: if there are no opportunities (not even a local community orchestra?) make your own opportunities. There are PLENTY of people you can make happy with an hour of music on some city square. _________________ 2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier |
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dkmatthews New Member
Joined: 27 Mar 2021 Posts: 7 Location: Charlotte NC
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 8:35 am Post subject: |
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Hello Brassnose & thanks for your thoughtful reply.
Your words inspired me to search the web for a community group, and it appears there are two community concert bands within 30-40 minutes of my location. Unfortunately, it seems that music ensembles have all shut down until the COVID virus is defeated.
Thanks much for the words of encouragement. I will contact the bands about being on a call-list for auditions when we have the virus behind us. Regardless, I'm going to sell a couple of trumpets and a couple of cornets, just to clear out a closet and let someone else get some use & enjoyment from these horns.
Kind regards... |
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Croquethed Heavyweight Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2013 Posts: 612 Location: Oakville, CT
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 9:18 am Post subject: |
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Just play to play. Make it an indispensable part of your day.
I accidentally discovered a great place to play when my family said it was just too loud for them. I went up to the covered entranceway to our local primary school. I go up most nights the weather allows for 30 minutes to an hour.
And Brassnose is right. The folks doing their evening walks express their appreciation. The guys working the night cleaning crew come out and talk for a few minutes, then ask me to play something "lively" when they go back in.
I may not get as much time in as I wish a lot of days, but very rare is the day the horn doesn't come up to the lips at all. All I need is a little blues improv and I'm "good 'til tomorrow." |
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dkmatthews New Member
Joined: 27 Mar 2021 Posts: 7 Location: Charlotte NC
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 11:56 am Post subject: |
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Croquethed wrote: | Just play to play. Make it an indispensable part of your day.
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Good advice, Croquethed. I've got my original Bach Strad 37 that I purchased new from Reitz Music about 40 years ago.
Then I've recently inherited my uncle's early 1940s era Conn 18B silver trumpet in the original case with the original alternate tuning slides + the original music lyre and original straight mute. It's a super-cool horn to play and the sentimental value is 100X whatever it's worth on the open market.
I'll play just to do something analog in this digital age. |
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Dayton Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Mar 2013 Posts: 2025 Location: USA
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 1:32 am Post subject: |
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Quote: | Any other amateurs out there who simply don't have the opportunity to play anymore? What have you done, other than giving up playing? |
Looks like you've found a community group. which is terrific (once those groups start meeting again). You mentioned that you were a "decent amateur." Perhaps one way to stay motivated is to make it your goal to be a "good" amateur: Take lessons, work with your teacher on a routine and stick with it, and generally be as prepared as you can be when the opportunities to perform begin to re-emerge this summer. Good luck, and have fun! |
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BGinNJ Veteran Member
Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 380
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 10:40 am Post subject: |
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I play for my own enjoyment, mostly. When I don't enjoy it, I take a break.
I do wish there were more opportunities. I did occasional jam sessions, and was playing in a community big band for a while, but I switched over to guitar when they had more of a need there. |
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HJL New Member
Joined: 24 Feb 2021 Posts: 5 Location: Florida
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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After a 55 year layoff, in December 2020 I purchased an 1961 Olds cornet and an Arban book and started playing. I was surprised how easily my fingers knew which valves to push and I could work my way through exercises and songs to the extent that my performance isn't quite awful. I am hoping to find a teacher and a community band (when my lip lasts more than 30 minutes.) I am very happy to have restarted. |
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cheiden Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8911 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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I quit soon after high school when I failed out of college and wore out playing in a pop band. A decade later I got motivated and found my way to the local community college big band. Through those contacts, I wound up in a series of big bands. Eventually, I tripped into a number of community musical theater groups. Contacts from the community college also got me into my very first lessons and that led to a number of gigs including an invitation to play with a pretty decent symphony orchestra for a summer concert series. Somewhere in the middle, I found my way into an R&B band, a rock band, and brass chamber workshop, and for a time, a salsa band.
One thing leads to the next if you're conscientious, motivated, and make yourself useful. _________________ "I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart |
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