Teacher recommendation wanted in N.VA.

[Billh]

Teacher wanted in N.VA.

I live in McLean, VA and have started playing again (3 days ago) after about a 20 yr. layoff. I could tell you how grim I sound, but perhaps the fact that I started piano lessons in July and sound a lot better on the piano than the cornet will give anyone interested an idea of where I am at the moment.

I grew up playing the Arban book and sight reading, but what I would like to learn now is improvisation, chords, etc. so I can play the kind of things I grew up hearing Bobby Hackett playing. (http://homepage.mac.com/billh96007/2005_Calendars/PhotoAlbum125.html)

Another very pertinent question is the common one about developing tone, lip strength and endurance. I bought a new cornet, which arrived a day earlier than I expected, so my planned day of rest went by the wayside, and now my lip muscles are very tired. Practicing every day has always been everyone’s rule, but it seems to me it is better to give these lip muscles a chance to rest - at least at first. Oh - I am 63 years old (and that is hard to imagine...).

[jhatpro]

Welome to TH and welcome back to playing! Can't help you with a teacher in your area, but I can give you some tips on coming back as quickly as possible:

1) Start with soft, in-the-staff playing, and play only for 20 or 30 seconds before resting an equal period. (This is different and much more beneficial than playing for half an hour straight and then resting.) Limit your total play/rest sessions to no more than 20 or 30 minutes at a time. In a few weeks you can start to add time.

2) Learn the major, minor, mixolydian, and blues scales. Work at arpeggiating the 1-3-5-7 of each. You'll find a handy, downloadable scale syllabus on the Jamey Aebersold Website at www.jazzbooks.com

3) Speaking of Aebersold, get some of his basic playalongs and begin working them into your playing sessions.

4) If you want to sound like Bobby Hackett, listen carefully to some of his recordings. "Live at the Roosevelt Grill" is a good one. Start playing along with him and you'll find you'll begin to assimilate his style.

5) Join a band as soon as possible.

6) Try to make everything you play as musical as possible. Play even your Arbans stuff as if you were performing it.

7) Continue with your efforts to find a teacher and look especially for one who's strong on jazz improv and duet playing. It'll be fun to trade fours with him/her.

Good luck, Bill!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.� Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[B_Starry]

Billh, I'm about 30 miles away from you, near Woodbridge, if you'd like to get together for duets or to talk trumpet.
If you're married, our wives could "bond", too!

Jim gave you some great advice, and you came to the right place: trumpetherald is a fantastic resource (but you might have to sift through some of the not-so-great stuff, too.)

I spent the past 3-4 years working on Caruso and BE, and I recommend you do some research in those dedicated forums.
- Brian

P.S. I'm 48 and have several students, none of whom are 63, but their combined ages is way over that! (that's a joke)
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do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God

[swthiel]

Welcome to TH, and back to the trumpet/cornet!

You've gotten some good advice above. Another alternative in your hunt for a teacher is to take a peek at the registry -- I see a couple of people who are near you. They might or might not be the right people to teach you, but they might be able to point you to a suitable teacher. (Note the B_Starry is one of those people ...)

Happy hunting!
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Steve Thiel

[iambrassman]