Pocket or Plastic For Aspiring 7 Year Old ?

cheiden · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 5:44 am Post subject:

I'd have thought that the closer center of mass of a cornet would make the weight easier to bear than that of a typical trumpet, but it seems you've already confirmed that's not the case for your daughter.

I enjoy believing that the plastic horns will come around eventually but the ones I've tried (it's been a while) didn't seem worthy just yet.

And FWIW I've found some of the pockets tricky to hold.

I appreciate your predicament. I've got two 9-year olds at home and they can hold a standard Bb but it's still a little awkward.
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LSOfanboy · Veteran Member Joined: 08 Jul 2018 Posts: 347

Abraxas · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 6:46 am Post subject:

LSOfanboy... Do you have any links to those reviews ? The one's I watched were obviously unbiased as they listed a few cons and their recommendations were quite conditional, in the end.

As I explained in the title and several posts, I do not have the option of a regular, brass instrument. They are too heavy for my diminutive 6 year old daughter(She will be 7 in October). She couldn't even grip the valve block. Her hands are too small. That seems to be lost on you and some of the other respondents. I agree, no point in discussing this further , but it's not I who have ignored any replies, rather many of the respondents don't seem to get the issue of size and weight. I did look at the Getzen Super Deluxe on a recommendation, but apparently the bells are paper thin. If I thought she could sustainably support a regular brass cornet that is rugged, I'd just continue to let her use my Old's Specials...at least the LA model. They are built like tanks.

LSOfanboy · Veteran Member Joined: 08 Jul 2018 Posts: 347

mm55 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 01 Jul 2013 Posts: 1412

Abraxas · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 8:06 am Post subject:

Objective reviews.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-eFI1Y5SK8
Fast forward to 33.00 for his summary, but keep it in mind that he is talking from the perspective of a high school music teacher as a longer term prospect.

Jordan Hoffman ...main complaint was that the 1 and 3 tuning slides were too short to be of value in fixing intonation...again not an issue as this is a temp purchase to get her to hold a horn and make sounds. Not for weeks, but I anticipate a few short months. I have no illusions that she is going to be a protege of (favorite player here) by the age of 8.

Grasping an entire valve block properly is not such an issue when the trumpet weighs as much as a toilet paper tube .

As others have already noted, age has no bearing on size and strength especially in the 6 and 7 year old range. Look at some dated Grade 1 and 2 class photos.

My whole point in posting this question was to fish for possible pocket trumpets that might fit the situation. Apparently , at least at affordable costs, this is fading as an option.

Don Herman rev2 · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 10:08 am Post subject:

Good grief, the kid's 7, buy her a pretty plastic horn and let her play it.

Of course, my kid was doing Carnival on his Mt Vernon Bach 37 at 3...

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LittleRusty · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 10:23 am Post subject:

Speed · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 10:38 am Post subject:

At the risk of being accused as a heretic, have you considered signing her up for piano lessons until her strength and hand span will allow her to comfortably hold a cornet or trumpet?

With the right teacher, she'd learn the music end of things, which she could then transfer to a trumpet or cornet in a few years.

That path worked very nicely for me. I had a much older brother who was playing first chair trumpet in a university band when I was in first grade (age 6). Every time he came home from college, I nearly worried him to death wanting to play his trumpet, and the conversation came up about my starting to play on a cornet at that early age. He convinced our parents to start me out on piano lessons.

Our school started "junior" band in 5th grade (age 11), and my parents bought me a Conn Director cornet at that point. By that time, I was pretty competent at reading music, from my piano lessons. I was a HUGE step ahead of my classmates because I knew the mental part of music (i.e., notes, rhythms, time signatures, etc.) Learning to play cornet, and later trumpet, was just learning to work the machine.

Just a thought.

Take care,
Marc Speed

Jerry · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 11:54 am Post subject:

I tried several brands of plastic trumpets a few years ago at NAMM. Before that day, I had only heard of pTrumpet. There were distinct differences among all the brands I tried, and I was surprised that there was one brand that played considerably better than the rest.

I can't remember what brands I tried, but I do know that pTrumpet was not my favorite. I do remember that my favorite brand had metal liners in the valve cylinders.

At the following ITG conference I attended, some store was running a special on the brand I did like the best. However, each one I tried played different.

So if the OP gets a plastic trumpet for his child, I would recommend trying the specific sample he eventually takes home.

cheiden · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 11:57 am Post subject:

LittleRusty · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 11:59 am Post subject:

LSOfanboy · Veteran Member Joined: 08 Jul 2018 Posts: 347

My final post on this thread.

Abraxas; as I said near the start, its your money and your kid, so do whatever you want. I doesn't affect me and I am glad to know that there is another child out there showing some enthusiasm of the instrument.

What I find a little frustrating though is that you have posted with an agenda; essentially you knew the answer to your question before you started, as the thread has gone on you have eventually stated that your daughter is completely incapable of gripping a valve block for any brass instrument. Whilst I find this hard to accept (once again, there are plenty of top players who started on brass instruments half your daughter's age and I myself was playing by that time and my development was a medical concern at that age) you are entitled to your own opinion regarding your daughter and her strength.

Don't, however, then seek to contradict the advice you are given, whilst quoting complete untruths 'pros are using them on gigs' when talking to someone who is actually in the profession! If you are dead set on a plastic trumpet, go ahead, but don't pick a fight trying to persuade experienced players that their tried-and-tested beliefs are wrong.

I very genuinely wish the best for you and your child, and my heartfelt advice would actually be to seek out a local teacher to give your child a lesson (on your cornet) and discuss the issue with them, I think they are unlikely to support a plastic instrument but that is between you and them to decide on.

You are welcome to PM me if you want any guidance regarding the direction of your child's development, but I shan't post again on this thread or on this topic.

All the best

Dennis78 · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 1:46 pm Post subject:

Just get her a Holton t602. Have her practice a couple nights a week and in a month she’ll have the grip and strength to hold it just fine.

100 years ago she would have been ready for manufacturing or coal mining. I don’t baby my children at all. Hand had a trumpet in their hands since age 2.

My daughter....now 6 can barely grip it but she puts forth the effort and does pretty well considering. My oldest now 9 somehow went to strings and plays cello. My youngest who will be 3 next month is trying

I’m also glad your kid is interested in making music!

Give her everything she needs to be successful and spare no dime!
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a few different ones

Abraxas · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 3:55 pm Post subject:

Denny Schreffler · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 8:12 pm Post subject:

Abraxas · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 9:08 pm Post subject:

I'm always interested in knowing how much these instruments weigh. Case in point, my daughter has an easier time with my Reynolds trumpet than either of my Olds cornets, no doubt because it is considerably lighter. Unfortunately, with the lighter weight almost always comes with a more fragile gauge of metal.

Brad361 · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 2:31 am Post subject:

Abraxas · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:20 am Post subject:

Being able to hold and lift a brass horn isn't the gold standard it might seem. If it leads to tension in the muscles, she is not going to have the relaxed posture left over to play anything, at that point. Her elbows, for example are tucked into her stomach as she struggles to hold it up. Anyhow, i ordered the pTrumpet after considering all your suggestions and the color should appeal to her as that's what kids like too. If it inspires her to pick it up more often, then that's a good thing.

I have lots of mpc's to swap the plastic one out. The Schiller pocket was tempting, however, I predict, given her extreme rate of growth, by the time she can play a C Major scale or somewhere thereabouts, she will be ready for the grown up horns and I have lots of those around, especially the rugged Olds cornets. I very nearly got her the suggested Getzen cornet suggested but just shy of the mouse click, I read the red flag "paper thin bell".

Thanks for all your suggestions and despite suggestions to the contrary, i did not start this post predetermined that I'd go plastic, rather with an open mind. It was only a leaning, considering weight and ruggedness as the biggest factors. Cheers.

mike ansberry · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:07 am Post subject:

Not to voice support for any one choice but I've played a friends Tromba plastic trumpet and played a Carol pocket trumpet last Saturday at Rich Ita's shop. Both played amazingly well. Not as good as a good pro horn, but definitely good enough to get by. They both had a dark sound and would actually be good on a small group jazz gig.
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Music is a fire in your belly, fighting to get out. You'd better put a horn in the way before someone gets hurt.