Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 6:37 am Post subject: Hi There!
I played trumpet back in the 60s and 70s, now after an amazing 42 years I am playing a cornet at age 72. It is coming, but gradually.
Back then I could play a jazz solo on a tune but never worked out the chords. If it sounded 'right' I played it.
Right now any comeback advice would be appreciated. _________________ Comeback Horn at 73
Great news that you have returned to the horn! Find a teacher to review embouchure and other aspects so you won't practice bad habits. Then just practice and enjoy. _________________ Craig Mitchell
Thanks for the encouragement.
I have only been back practising for about 2 weeks and made good progress.
I am trying to expand my range again but I fear it will take some while. Sometimes even the 'E' above middle C is a struggle! Any good tips on moving ahead with endurance and range? _________________ Comeback Horn at 73
Joined: 25 May 2013 Posts: 2123 Location: Atlanta GA
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 5:08 am Post subject:
museltof wrote:
Any good tips on moving ahead with endurance and range?
Yes, focus on playing across the range you do have with ease and good form. Over time, your range will expand and endurance will improve while you maintain good form. If you focus too much on attempting to play notes outside your current range, you run the risk of learning bad habits and picking up bad form (what Franquin called "breaking your embouchure," apparently a common problem for beginners even back then!). _________________ Bb Yamaha Xeno 8335IIS
Cornet Getzen Custom 3850S
Flugelhorn Courtois 155R
Piccolo Stomvi
There is an excellent book...
EMBOUCHURE BUILDER.
by Lowell Little.
It would be good to practice
out of on a daily basis to help
develop your embouchure.
Also, it would be good to practice
some etudes that are not too
strenuous.
First Book of Practical Studies
by Robert getchell would be good
for this.
Good Luck.
I am a Comeback Trumpet player as well, about 3 1/2 years in now! I never planned on playing again and actually gave one of my trumpets to a friend. A call from a new Music Intern at my Church changed all of that!!! I hadn't played for 14 years and when I came back, I approached the trumpet like I hadn't played for just a few days. Then I jumped right in to performing in public. I got away with it, but I must say, that approach created a lot of set backs that took a while to resolve. With help from several Trumpet Player friends, I did a reboot and began approaching the right way. Much slower, but much better.
Joined: 20 Apr 2016 Posts: 1063 Location: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 7:59 am Post subject:
I am 81 and playing ( 2 years now ) after a 50+ year hiatus. You already got some good advice here. Range and endurance take time, but they come. What worked best for me was hooking up with a community band as soon as I was good enough ( in my case 7 months after I started playing again ). There is nothing like playing with other musicians. _________________ 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
Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Posts: 1047 Location: Iowa City, IA
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 5:30 pm Post subject:
I also play "What sounds right" even as I work on understand theory and chords. If you need playalongs, of course, there are the wonderful Aebersold books. https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/index-of-jazz-standards/ is another resource.
Playing with others was critical to my comeback. I started with our senior center band. Look for a New Horizons group http://newhorizonsmusic.org/new-horizons-groups/. That led from a gray-haired concert band playing middle school band music to a full big band simply because I said to a tenor player, "Can we work on jazz improv with your teacher?"
_________________ Jim Calkins
IA City
‎"Rooty toot bop pattern. Rooty toot blues lick. Rooty toot Miles quote. Rooty toot mistake- all my solos." -Dmitri Matheny
Joined: 20 Apr 2016 Posts: 1063 Location: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:03 am Post subject:
conn53victor wrote:
Playing with others was critical to my comeback. I started with our senior center band. Look for a New Horizons group http://newhorizonsmusic.org/new-horizons-groups/. That led from a gray-haired concert band playing middle school band music to a full big band simply because I said to a tenor player, "Can we work on jazz improv with your teacher?"
I've been with the local Horizons group for going on 3 years now. It was and still is great. It has opened the door to other opportunities as well. _________________ 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
Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Posts: 1047 Location: Iowa City, IA
Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 6:24 am Post subject:
museltof wrote:
Hey, that band sounds great! Are you in that band?
Thanks! Yes, Smith Studio Jazz started with me asking a tenor player to work together on improv in 2009. _________________ Jim Calkins
IA City
‎"Rooty toot bop pattern. Rooty toot blues lick. Rooty toot Miles quote. Rooty toot mistake- all my solos." -Dmitri Matheny
Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Posts: 139 Location: Richmond, VA
Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 10:04 am Post subject:
The best advice I have as a "comeback player" it to have fun with playing. Don't get all upset, worked up, annoyed, etc... with playing as it will get you discouraged.
Play some pop tunes, melodies of well known songs you hear on the radio, even if you're just tinkering around, trying to play it by ear. It will help get you relaxed, amused, and thinking positive about getting your chops back.
I started trumpet in 4th grade in school and played all through school band until I graduated. Then in my adult years, after serving a career in the US Coast Guard, I returned to the trumpet after many years of not playing. It took quite a while, and I'm still learning new techniques with breathing, embouchure, and long tones. If I can do it, you can do it!! _________________ 1967 Holton Collegiate Trumpet --> my grade school band trumpet. I just can't part with it!
1975 Olds Ambassador Cornet --> my new/used eBay special. Sounds great!
2018 Regiment WI-800 Bugle --> my inexpensive Chinese made bugle from Amazon.
Joined: 05 Jan 2016 Posts: 302 Location: South of Chicago
Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:55 pm Post subject:
Here is the advice I would give myself if I was starting my comeback again:
Rest as much as you play during practice period and stop play when you get fatigued and start to loose form. This will allow you to practice longer and help prevent bad habits.
There are no magic note or books. They all require work. However, the ones I would recommend are the following:
- Clarke Technical Studies (free if you look on the Web)
- Embouchure Builder (previously mentioned) When you are done with EB above move on to Irons 27 Groups of exercises.
- A comprehensive scale method (if you are going to play jazz). Scale Force by Rich Willey or Know Your Trumpet by Lowell Little. The Boptism website has Scales for Improvisation by Chris Friederich for free. You can also start with scales and intervals out of the Arban. (Arban is Free on the web)
-Buy an easy Etude book. Getchell's First Book of Practical Studies or one from Sigmund Herring.
Routine:
I would start with Clarke study number 1 and play the exercises you can play without straining. Once you can play an exercise without straining add the next one. When you are done with Study 1, move to study 2. etc.
Start with the first exercise in Embouchure Builder. Once you can play it without straining add another one.
Run your 12 major scales every day. Focus on one key every week and play exercises in that key out of the scale book.
Pick one etude and perfect it each week. Sight read a new etude each day.
Play music of some sort each day.
Practice every day even if it for only 5 or 10 minutes. Anything is better than nothing.
Oh, and get a few private lessons. It will get you started on the right foot and prevent frustration.
Like Butch said. Number 1 advice is have fun. We are not doing this for a living. Find a band to play in as soon as you can.
Thanks, I am indeed taking advantage of that marvellous free stuff, although some I have not yet advanced enough to play. A few things I also recall from my old trumpet playing days.
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