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jsieverdes New Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Posts: 5
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Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 2:52 pm Post subject: Post-retirement career as a trumpet jazz artist |
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I want to ask the community about part time schools (online or not) on a long term approach to become essentially a performance major. I have a non-music job right now that I'm not giving up, but play weekly (small combo). What are some suggestions on getting ready for a 2nd part time career in retirement to perform. I'm talking 20 years out before I retire but what will help me along the way to hit the ground running at mid-60's |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9144 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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I'm reading cross-purposes in your post. Are you asking about private learning or university level accredited courses? _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"Well, even if I could play like Wynton, I wouldn't play like Wynton." Chet Baker
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Selmer K-Modified Light Trumpet (for sale)
Benge 3X Cornet |
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vwag Veteran Member
Joined: 17 Jul 2016 Posts: 180 Location: Denver, CO
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Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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I actually would love to hear feedback on recommended courses, classes, or material for music theory for a non- music major. I do feel I’m missing much around theory to truly appreciate what I’m playing. I’m 5 years into a comeback looking to get a better foundation. |
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HaveTrumpetWillTravel Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Jan 2018 Posts: 1023 Location: East Asia
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Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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I think for a lot of the comeback players this is kind of the dream, that over 10, 20, 30 years we'll log enough hours to be able to play semi-professionally. I recently watched Chase Sanborn's "10,000 hours" video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awfgrRHfKdE
He figures that it really took him that many practice hours to be able to play at a professional level, and he wasn't counting performances, gigs, theory classes, etc.
There seem to be a lot of new online programs designed to teach jazz improv and the like, but I don't know how closely one can approximate a music major experience without the college/university affiliation.
This is probably a downer for fellow comeback players, but I'm guessing that reaching professional level as a comeback player is very, very hard to do. I'm back a couple of years and feel like I've made progress on intonation and rhythm, transposing, and some basic theory, but it's very different from soaking in music 12 hours/day for 4-8 years in your teens and early twenties. |
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OldHorn Regular Member
Joined: 26 Dec 2017 Posts: 90
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 6:58 am Post subject: |
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This premise IMO will be very hard to do. You can find private instructors to help you, and after 20 years study, I might be wrong, but I suspect you'll want to perform at a professional level. It's been my experience that most of the playing opportunities that come our way, are a result of networking and friendships made in school with out musicians.
You won't have this networking to build on. Being honest, you're just gonna be the old guy (like me), where professional playing opportunities are limited. My advice is to enjoy music and playing, and take it where it leads. Enjoy the ride. |
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Croquethed Heavyweight Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2013 Posts: 626 Location: Oakville, CT
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 7:16 am Post subject: |
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Maybe move to a place you can busk in retirement. |
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epoustoufle Veteran Member
Joined: 07 Nov 2015 Posts: 234 Location: France
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:04 am Post subject: |
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I actually think it would be pretty stressful being a professional trumpet player. Phone call, 1 rehearsal, then a gig with people you don't know. Maybe they expect a lot from 1 trumpet player, maybe you're supposed to be "fun", maybe nobody even talks to you. I did a few like that. |
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Turkle Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 2450 Location: New York City
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:16 am Post subject: |
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I don't think you're going to find a school or official program that's going to do what you want.
I'd suggest finding the baddest trumpet player in town and taking private lessons for a long time. Hit the jam sessions and network.
The problem with your concept, ultimately, is that there are more jazz education programs in this country than there are jazz clubs where the music can be heard. You see the difficulty here. There aren't careers in this music for anyone, let alone graduates of school programs.
Your only hope is to learn the music and aggressively network for the next 20 years.
Good luck! _________________ Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3. |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9144 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:41 am Post subject: |
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There might be a difference between being a full-time professional trumpet player and being a trumpet player who plays professionally.
If you have a retirement income, then how often and for how much you play are not as crucial s if your income depended on it. And face it, there are a lot of playing opportunities (depending on where you live) that you can play for money and who's expectations and playing standard are not as high, but rewarding, both emotionally and financially.
To that end, the latter, there are community colleges where you can find excellent staff which is very affordable. There are online/Skype private lessons available where you can study with first-class players, like John Mohan here. It'll cost you, but Berklee College of Music has a series of online courses that are worth looking into. Check out their web site.
There are some good recommendations here but keep in mind that, "You can only do what you can do". That's not an excuse for mediocrity but a suggestion to do your best but also to feel rewarded in that, no matter where it leads and not to feel frustrated or beat yourself up.
BTW, although you need good chops to do both, don't confuse the suggestions that might be assuming you will be playing top level ensemble work with playing gigs in a combo. Different emphasis.
Also, how viable your possibility of making a good income is and how many clubs are available depend on where you live. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"Well, even if I could play like Wynton, I wouldn't play like Wynton." Chet Baker
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Selmer K-Modified Light Trumpet (for sale)
Benge 3X Cornet
Last edited by kehaulani on Wed Jan 15, 2020 1:45 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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John Mohan Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Nov 2001 Posts: 9831 Location: Chicago, Illinois
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 11:57 am Post subject: |
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If your goal is to teach trumpet, perhaps as a professor at a college, then you should pursue a formal education and eventually get at least a Masters Degree in music education, or perhaps a BA in trumpet performance with a Masters in music education (or the other way around).
If your goal is to become a good enough trumpet player to earn money playing in top level professional situations, then you should seek private lessons, either in person or via Skype with a top level trumpet teacher who spent most of his or her career as a successful professional trumpet player.
I am one of those trumpet teachers, and there are others like me. I have had several students come to me with the goal of playing trumpet for a living or partial living upon retirement from their current careers. Several are participants of this website and all have been successful in achieving their goals.
Best wishes,
John Mohan
Skype Lessons Available - Click on the e-mail button below if interested
Personal Valet to a Malamute (people with Malamutes will understand)
https://i.postimg.cc/R0G2bFdQ/IMG-6788.jpg _________________ Trumpet Player, Clinician & Teacher
1st Trpt for Cats, Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Evita, Hunchback of Notre Dame,
Grease, The Producers, Addams Family, In the Heights, etc.
Ex LA Studio Musician
16 Year Claude Gordon Student |
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Jaw04 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 31 Dec 2015 Posts: 911 Location: Bay Area, California
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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Instead of enrolling in classes or going back to college I would recommend just work on playing a lot. As many jam sessions as possible, join a community band or orchestra, try to hustle up some gigs in your local music scene. Network, make friends, jam, etc.
Take lessons from someone who you look up to and you can "fill in the blanks" that you speak of in your education that way. |
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HorseCar New Member
Joined: 19 Aug 2022 Posts: 2
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 6:37 am Post subject: |
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Cool that you think about retirement in advance. And thank you all for the suggestions of classes and schools in the thread.
I have never had an opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument, and now I would like to catch up. I don’t strive to become a professional, but I just want to play guitar for pleasure. I don’t know how much time a day I will be able to dedicate to it daily, but I want to try it to be more or less before I am retired. I am out of hobbies now, and I want to learn to play the guitar to become a new hobby.
I hope to retire in 10 years thanks to financial planning from https://www.humaninvesting.com/retirement-plan-services. I have a well-paying job and hope I will not have to work until I am in my 60s.
Last edited by HorseCar on Tue Aug 23, 2022 2:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9144 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 7:46 am Post subject: |
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Not to mention that jsieverdes made only one post, the original. Certainly not a "Thanks for the info". I'm getting tired of posts like this, or did I miss something? _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"Well, even if I could play like Wynton, I wouldn't play like Wynton." Chet Baker
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Selmer K-Modified Light Trumpet (for sale)
Benge 3X Cornet |
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Andy Cooper Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Nov 2001 Posts: 1871 Location: Terre Haute, IN USA
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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kehaulani wrote: | ... I'm getting tired of posts like this, or did I miss something? |
Yeah - you missed his 4 other posts made on the same day... then no more. |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9144 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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Why, thak you, kind Sir. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"Well, even if I could play like Wynton, I wouldn't play like Wynton." Chet Baker
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Selmer K-Modified Light Trumpet (for sale)
Benge 3X Cornet |
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axelbrooks New Member
Joined: 11 May 2023 Posts: 5 Location: united states
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Posted: Fri May 12, 2023 4:59 am Post subject: |
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Look into jazz workshops, masterclasses, and individual lessons with experienced musicians to help you improve. Also, connect with other artists and find places to play. |
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jhatpro Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Mar 2002 Posts: 10209 Location: The Land Beyond O'Hare
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Posted: Fri May 12, 2023 6:00 am Post subject: |
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I really like this advice from jaw04:
Instead of enrolling in classes or going back to college I would recommend just work on playing a lot. As many jam sessions as possible, join a community band or orchestra, try to hustle up some gigs in your local music scene. Network, make friends, jam, etc.
Take lessons from someone who you look up to and you can "fill in the blanks" that you speak of in your education that way. _________________ 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 |
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peanuts56 Veteran Member
Joined: 21 Nov 2021 Posts: 242
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Posted: Fri May 12, 2023 8:46 am Post subject: |
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kehaulani wrote: | There might be a difference between being a full-time professional trumpet player and being a trumpet player who plays professionally.
If you have a retirement income, then how often and for how much you play are not as crucial s if your income depended on it. And face it, there are a lot of playing opportunities (depending on where you live) that you can play for money and who's expectations and playing standard are not as high, but rewarding, both emotionally and financially.
To that end, the latter, there are community colleges where you can find excellent staff which is very affordable. There are online/Skype private lessons available where you can study with first-class players, like John Mohan here. It'll cost you, but Berklee College of Music has a series of online courses that are worth looking into. Check out their web site.
There are some good recommendations here but keep in mind that, "You can only do what you can do". That's not an excuse for mediocrity but a suggestion to do your best but also to feel rewarded in that, no matter where it leads and not to feel frustrated or beat yourself up.
BTW, although you need good chops to do both, don't confuse the suggestions that might be assuming you will be playing top level ensemble work with playing gigs in a combo. Different emphasis.
Also, how viable your possibility of making a good income is and how many clubs are available depend on where you live. |
Good points. Especially like the first paragraph. A trumpet playing friend of mine who is a very fine player told me an interesting story.
Some years back he had a friend on Maynard's band. Apparently one of the trumpet section guys had to leave the tour for some reason. The band still had a few more weeks left on the tour. My buddy was asked to finish out the tour. As good as he is, he declined knowing he didn't have the chops to play at the volume level the gig required night after night. It's a whole different ballgame at that level. |
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