Distractions

[kehaulani]

I'm thinking out loud and any one can jump in with thoughts on this topic. Which is: seeking perfect trumpet methods and exercises vs. practicing just about anything. A short anecdote to illustrate.

When I lived in S. Calif., I went looking for a Martial Arts studio convenient to me. I already was a 4th degree blackbelt and had trained in a variety of styles so, to an extent, it didn't really matter what style I trained with. I went to a studio a few minutes down the street from my house. I saw some things they were teaching that I strongly disagreed with, so I decided not to work out with them. But the result was, I seldom worked out regularly with anyone and my skill suffered.

In retrospect, it would've been better to have done something instead of nothing. Isn't that what some of us are doing regarding finding this perfect system or that perfect exercise, this Goldilocks mouthpiece or that Goldilocks horn?

Wouldn't it be better to just pick a system/exercises/horn/mpc. and hit the shed? Do we divert too much time and energy that could be spent practicing into extraneous things, resulting in too much of nothing for a lot of something?
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[Croquethed]

Great thought-provoking topic, Kehaulani.

There used to be a kind of recurring debate in the running community that one could not be a "real runner" unless one had run a marathon. But I always contended that if running was part of your everyday life, that if you got grumpy if you went three days in a row without a run, you were a real runner even if you ran just 2 miles a day (and I did run my requisite marathon just to see).

Same with the horn. There are guys on here who are absolute monsters of talent, guys with lots of theory and practice behind them, and lots of comebackers and beginners, too. I think if playing the trumpet has become a vital part of our lives, no matter what our skill level or goals, we're trumpeters and legit members of the community.

When I started my comeback 9 years ago, I was 40 years past my high school experience (technically solid 2nd chair but not confident or skilled enough to play first chair). I play for my own enjoyment and improvement as the spirit of the day moves me. A lot of fundamentals. A lot of scales and experimentation. A lot of blues. Range went from nil to a solid E above high C. Yes, I strive for more and will never stop that. At some point I'll top out but won't seek out a chops doc so I can hit double C.

No goldilocks at all. No teacher at all. Just put the horn up there and play. Life is better when you do.

[JayKosta]

[delano]

[cheiden]

[kehaulani]

[stuartissimo]

Interesting question. I suppose part of the problem is that it’s hard to figure out whether the ‘something’ is in fact, better than ‘nothing’. In your own example, would you really have gained something meaningful if you’d joined that gym? It’s not unthinkable that sooner or later frustration would have gotten the upper hand and you’d have quitted. Also, learning is pretty much a process of trial and error so always trying new things (and finding out what works) can be an integral part of learning to play.

There is of course the danger of ‘the grass is always greener’. But there’s also a risk in wasting a lot of time sticking to the same concepts/gear when it turns out they’re insufficient. I suppose like most things a balance is more productive than either of the extremes.
_________________
1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces

[kehaulani]

Yes, "Doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results".

I was very stubborn about the "free buzz-mouthpiece buzz-horn play" thing. Now, I don't want to get into it but for me, changing my concept to air producing a lip oscillation amplified by the horn concept led me to a little leadpipe blowing and more relaxed playing, not clamping down on the lips but concentrating on shrinking/opening the lip opening. So, a little exploring can be good.

But I'm thinking of the phrase of never being satisfied. Concentrating in the trees, not seeing the forest. Falling victim to spending your time and energy on the wrong thing. Micro-managing to avoiding the hard work of just hitting the shed.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[stuartissimo]

[GeorgeB]

For me it's an age thing. I came back 6 years ago after a 50 year layoff and at the age of 79, and also thinking I should be as good a player as I was in my teens and twenties. Because of that I was never satisfied. Although I play first trumpet, and always have, I am not playing lead in my band. I couldn't if I wanted to because age and health conditions present endurance issues that just can't be fixed no matter how hard I try.

I have never been satisfied with my playing until two years ago when two first chair players in the band had a long talk with me. They made me realize that I am a better player than I think I am, and that I should accept the fact that I am an adequate player in an award winning band.

I haven't changed anything in my routine. I practice fundamentals 30 minutes every morning, and play tunes every afternoon for 60 minutes. The difference is I have accepted the fact that I am an adequate player for my age the state of my health.

That was a great thought-provoking post, kehaulani, and I wish you'd post it at that other site.
George
_________________
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

[Billy B]

[mafields627]

I think that the vast majority of players would be perfectly fine with a 7C/5C/3C plugged into a Yamaha/Getzen beginner horn or Bach 37/Yamaha Xeno. BUT, we like to tinker...we like to look for an edge. There's a thought in NASCAR that if your crew chief isn't pushing the rules to their absolute limits and looking for things that don't have rules yet made he's not trying to win. We do that with gear and methods.

Then, you have someone like my teacher. Forty years as an orcestral principal trumpet playing a stock Bach 1, stock Bach 229A, stock Yamaha picc. Old school? You better believe it, but it always sounded great.
_________________
--Matt--

No representation is made that the quality of this post is greater than the quality of that of any other poster. Oh, and get a teacher!

[TheHighNotes]

[Dayton]

[gwood66]

[Seymor B Fudd]

Great post!

For me there was no such thing as a method to follow. Aside from the first lessons during less than a year when I was 16 aiming at getting me to produce a good enough sound.

I spent the rest of my playing life up to 72 using whatever method helped my playing. Charles Colin´s thick book, with the advanced lip lip flexibilities became my favourite. Why? Seemed to function, rather well.

But the decisive force was my (probably)stubborn wish to get better, all the time. Kaizen! So the variable intentionality pointed to above is extremely important. Don´t just sit under the apple tree amusing yourself with random noises from your horn. You gotta have a goal in mind.

Anecdote: when I was eight I and my buddy tried to play along (make noises that in some way resembled..) his daddy´s American Patrol record (on a crank up phonograph), he on my little toy drum, me on our shower hose - I remember a childish idea "what if....."
1968 I played lead, American Patrol in the newly established swingband!
So if you want your dreams to become true you gotta lay down a considerable amount of time and effort.

Take away for me: The drive to get better. Also made me humble enough to finally take formal lessons....some 50 later.

So yes, better do something than not just nothing. "The meek shalt inherit the world"?? Nonsense, they just keep sitting under their apple tree. Fine for them but they were not the folks who discovered the wheel. However probably enjoying a happy time in the valley ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN62cxSs5Q8)
_________________
Cornets:
Getzen Custom Series Schilke 143D3/ DW Ultra 1,5 C
Getzen 300 series
Yamaha YCRD2330II
Yamaha YCR6330II
Getzen Eterna Eb
Trumpets:
Yamaha 6335 RC Schilke 14B
King Super 20 Symphony DB (1970)
Selmer Eb/D trumpet (1974)

[abontrumpet]