Anyone else toot on a horn while in traffic ?

[Man Of Constant Sorrow]

Way back long ago, I was stuck (as usual) on the notorious LIE (Long Island Expressway - "World's Largest Parking Lot"), while listening alternately, to the inimitable Don Imus, 10-10 WINS, and 880 WCBS on my morning commute.

I came upon a dude on a motorcycle playing a harmonica alongside me in the traffic congestion.

"Cool" ... methinks.

Next morning, I grabbed one of my beater Cornets, and put it on the passenger seat next to me. I began to play it, when the traffic congestion was pretty bad "bumper-to-bumper".
Somehow, this was somewhat cathartic and soothing. Good practice time.
Seemed to elicit "thumbs up" responses from other motorists.
(Beats picking one's nose, except when there's a recalcitrant booger in there)

Anyone here experience similar?
_________________
Sub-Optimal Hillbilly Jazz

[weeeeve]

At red lights and 'parking lot' traffic, I grab my pocket trumpet and play long tones and arpeggios. (The valves don't work, so it's all in the key of C...)
:^)

Otherwise, I'm sometimes just buzzing on a 1 1/2 C I keep in the truck.
_________________
Steven Laurent

Bach Strad Model 72
Holton Firebird

My music: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5vmwM185PWOnMCC1I8Cwjr

[Crazy Finn]

Nope.

I don't trust fellow drivers and I'm not getting my cornet mashed through the back of my head by a texter.
_________________
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

[Louise Finch]

The UK traffic police are pretty strict. I'm sure that unless you were parked against a kerb with the engine switched off and keys out (if applicable), that this would be considered dangerous driving, even if you were stopped for some time. I wouldn't risk checking my phone in a traffic jam, even if my car stop/start mechanism means that the engine is not currently running. I think the complaint from the Police would be that I was not ready to move as soon as able/not fully in control of a motor vehicle etc.

I did read a book on an A road (like a motorway, but only three lanes and a hard shoulder), but that was under exceptional circumstances. There had been a fatal accident between two junctions, and the road was completely closed for around 4 hours. All those like me, who had passed the last junction before the accident, so couldn't get off the A road, were basically stuck, but we were parked, able to walk out of our cars etc. Like I said, exceptional circumstances.

Take care and best wishes

Lou
_________________
Trumpets:
Yamaha 8335 Xeno II
Bach Strad 180ML/37
B&H Oxford
Kanstul F Besson C
Yamaha D and D/Eb
- James R New Custom 3Cs
Flugel:
Bach Strad 183 - Bach 3CFL
Cornets:
Yamaha Neo + Xeno
Bach Strad 184ML
B&H Imperial
- Kanstul Custom 3Cs

[jkarnes0661]

I have a beater pocket trumpet that I have taken with me in the car and used to play long tones in bumper to bumper or deserted highway stretches. For highway stretches my rule of thumb is once a another car is within 20 seconds of me (either passing me or me passing them) I put the horn down and get both hands on the wheel. The pocket trumpet is much more manageable to play one-handed and I don't really care if it gets damaged since I only spent $150 on it. Good way to gently maintain chops on the road with closer to a real horn's resistance, I prefer it to mouthpiece buzzing.
_________________
Jonathan Karnes
Grand Rapids, MI
jonathankarnes.com

[Louise Finch]

[Shark01]

Will occasionally buzz on a mouthpiece as a pre-warm up, anything more is too dangerous.

[patdublc]

I sometimes use a PETE or a mouthpiece while driving but I haven't actually played a horn. I have practiced in the care before while parked.

As a passenger, I may or may not have stuck my bell out the window and played while traveling through the tunnels of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
_________________
Pat Shaner
Play Wedge Mouthpieces by Dr. Dave exclusively.
Experiment with LOTS of horn makes and models.

[Bethmike]

An airbag deploys faster than I can move a mouthpiece or PETE away from my mouth. I love playing, but...............
_________________
Bach190ML43
Kanstul 1001
Bach NY7
Yamaha 631 Flugel

[BadHomreSure]

Many years ago I had a daily commute home on the FDR during rush hour, which is similarly bumper to bumper. I used the pocket trumpet daily on that drive, and surely appear in a number of tourists' NYC photo albums, because they used to get quite excited to see it and often hang out of their cabs to catch their New York moment.

[CaptPat]

Uuuummmm ... No

[Quadstriker]

I keep a beater horn in the car but that's definitely not for playing while operating a motor vehicle.

If I want to work the chops at a stoplight or in a traffic jam, I do have a Stomvi Upsound and a PETE in the center console.

[LittleRusty]

[Subtropical and Subpar]

This seems as sensible as taking stock advice from some of our posters Anyhow I drive a stick. One hand for the wheel, one hand for the stick, zero hands for a trumpet. Or cell phone, for that matter. Roughly halfway through the journey of life with 0.00 traffic accidents. I'd like to keep it that way.
_________________
1932 King Silvertone cornet
1936 King Liberty No. 2 trumpet
1958 Reynolds Contempora 44-M "Renascence" C
1962 Reynolds Argenta LB trumpet
1965 Conn 38A
1995 Bach LR18072
2003 Kanstul 991
2011 Schilke P5-4 B/G
2021 Manchester Brass flugel

[Croquethed]

I sniff corks.

[astadler]

This sounds at best like a way to get a distracted driving ticket and at worst a great way to destroy an instrument and your face. Please don’t do this and please don’t encourage others to.
_________________
Andrew Stadler

[Man Of Constant Sorrow]

[astadler]

I’ll also mention that bumper to bumper traffic is an excellent opportunity to get rear ended. I repeat, this is a bad idea.
_________________
Andrew Stadler

[Man Of Constant Sorrow]

In those four rear-enders, I was NOT playing a horn.
_________________
Sub-Optimal Hillbilly Jazz

[Andy Del]

There are types of drivers, those who admit to making errors on the road and need to concentrate, and those who lie about it.

All the ‘totters’ are in the second category.

Do yourself, your family and OTHERS on the road a favour and be sensible. Don’t play etc with something in your hand, on your mouth. Try lip buzzing instead. Or just listen to music.

Or give up driving.

All are far more sensible alternatives.
_________________
so many horns, so few good notes...