When is it Time to Hang It Up?

[ECLtmpt2]

I've been on a strong come-back path for a few years now and was even getting a few gigs along the way. Things were really going well.

Recently my wife had a life changing 'event' that requires almost full time support & care now. As much as I'm trying to keep up a practice schedule, it's just not happening enough. Besides, going to a gig for an evening with no real return time is out of the question.

The trumpet is now relegated to the back-burner, again. I'm not looking for any condolences or anything, just expressing that we never know what's around the corner and when or what will determine our course.

I plan to keep visiting TH and just see how this chapter works out. Taking it one day at a time.

BTW: As time permits I'll probably start listing some of my stuff in the Marketplace.

[stuartissimo]

Sorry to hear that. Best wishes to you and your wife, as much as your circumstances allow for. Although your intention to sell your gear hints otherwise, I still hope you’ll find a way to play again.

Take care.

[Seymor B Fudd]

Life is a many splendored gig......but suddenly the lights might get low....
and there are roads to be decided.
Don´t sell your horn - it´s a treasure as is your ability to play it - and I strongly believe that hope should be nurtured at every phase of life.
Maybe maybe someday??
But a man´s gotta do what a man´s gotta do so take care of your wife, and yourself. As you write taking it one day at a time.
Best wishes!
_________________
Cornets: mp 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)

[JayKosta]

[Tivolian]

I second the recommendation that you keep a horn in case you find it fun, or comforting, or distracting to pick it up sometimes. Maybe gigging isn’t in the cards for now, but the act of playing, the horn in your hands, and the sounds can be a big help. I call it brass therapy. Hope to see your continued presence on TH.
_________________
Tivolian

[Crazy Finn]

Trumpet was my thing for years. I practiced a lot, studied privately in high school, studied music and education in college and spend most of my time in the music building. I loved it.

I got into teaching after college and kept at it. I played in some semi-professional groups and ensembles, fairly high level (playing at festivals and whatnot).

It was a grind and I enjoyed it.

Until..... I started not to.

Trumpet started to feel like a burden. I wanted to do other things, but I always felt like I had to be practicing. And that practice became increasingly less enjoyable and more of a chore. Kind of like cleaning the bathroom or taking out the garbage, except it took an hour or two, not 15 minutes.

At some point, I had a serious sinus problem and playing literally became problematic and painful. I took the opportunity to take a break. Despite the sinus problems, it was refreshing. I still occasionally played with my students (I still taught band) but my home practicing was more like a few hours a year, not a few hours a week or a day.

I was playing trumpet, the trumpet wasn't playing me.

It was frustrating, a little, being a shadow of my former skills, but - on the other hand - I wasn't burned out.

I got lured back into playing with a community band and did that for a few years. I didn't practice that much, wasn't anything at the level I used to be, but it was ok. The pandemic hit, that took a haitus, and now my horns have a few years of dust on them. Literally. They're on the stand, but unplayed for a few years. I should probably do something about that.

Maybe I'll pick them up again and try to have fun with it, again. Maybe.
_________________
LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn

[ECLtmpt2]

Thank you for the kind words.

Re: selling; I have 3 Bb 'pro' horns, a Bb pocket, an Eb/D, a C, & a Flugelhorn. If I decide to sell some, my 'ole 180/37 & Flugel will probably stay until my son has to deal with it.

Again, Thanks. -Ed

[Shark01]

I didn’t restart playing for anyone but myself, and I have fully enjoyed the past 10 years just playing on my terms. If I can’t work in practices, I don’t. If I want to play alongside anyone from a duet to a chamber group to a full orchestra I put on accompaniment tracks, which I have hundreds of. No appointments, no jobs, no commitments.

I hope you can find the life balance you’re looking for.

[cbtj51]

After playing since 5th grade in the '50s, including a few periods of main income source application, I finally stopped altogether after playing a "Millennium Cruise" with a long run Rock Band in 2000. I would have liked to continue playing "occasionally", but that is not how trumpet works, so my new focus was acquiring a retirement fund, so I stopped traveling and gigging to work that out. My wife and I were blessed with lucrative years that really started setting us up for retirement when she got very sick in 2014. I "retired" from my day gig that same year earlier than planned, but we were financially prepared to do so. My days and nights became more or less fulltime caregiver depending on her situation until her passing in January 2021.

I was "drafted" into playing in my church brass ensemble a few months into my "retirement" in mid 2014, which seemed an easy fit into my otherwise caregiver role. As my wife's health fluctuated, I got involved in many different groups, some periods almost fulltime. I set aside a 1-2 hour flexible schedule everyday to practice, more to keep my sanity than anything else, but I also reaped the benefits (my longest continual streak was 848 days).

After my wife's passing, I met a much younger trumpet player at an out of town symphony gig during Easter 2022, eventually marrying her in February 2023. She is a fulltime Special Education teacher, but we both manage to travel and perform with various groups regularly.

I am still a very active trumpet player and now into my busiest schedule, having bookings thru Easter Sunday of next year. True retirement is just not in my plans currently, but I do know that someday it will happen. Anyway, I am blessed to want to play, still be able to play, and have the work to keep me playing, at least for now. My much younger wife has made me a younger, though not a young man, at least in my mind!

Life is Short, find the Joy in it!

Mike
_________________
'71 LA Benge 5X Bb
'72 LA Benge D/Eb
'76 Bach CL 229/25A C
‘92 Bach 37 Bb
'98 Getzen 895S Flugelhorn
'00 Bach 184 Cornet
'02 Yamaha 8335RGS
'16 Bach NY 7
'16 XO 1700RS Piccolo
Reeves 41 Rimmed Mouthpieces

[Man Of Constant Sorrow]

Are you still with us ... still picking-up the horn to toot, now'n'then?
_________________
Sub-Optimal Hillbilly Jazz

[kehaulani]

Doesn't need much introspection. It's time to hang it up when the negatives outweigh the positives.
_________________
"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

[BGinNJ]

[stuartissimo]

[BGinNJ]

[Man Of Constant Sorrow]

[quote="BGinNJ"][quote="stuartissimo"]