Why did you “come back”?

[Mikee]

I stopped playing trumpet after high school. Never intended to go to college (ended up going) but playing the trumpet was never even considered. Always wished I had played a “cool” instrument like the guitar to woo some of the ladies! The trumpet did not seem to fit the bill. Life happened, job, marriage, kids - not time for anything (never even considered picking up the trumpet again).

Then 15+ years ago - was in church - my wife and daughters were singing in the choir (I couldn’t sing or thought I couldn’t) and a snow bird trumpet player from Michigan came in and asked the choir director could he play along with us to keep his chops in shape. The acoustics in our church are awesome and it sounded absolutely beautiful! I picked up my old high school horn and said “I am not putting my mouth on that thing”. Bought a used horn and started practicing. One year later I was playing with the choir at church. Today some 15 years later I still play every Sunday at our church and am the lead trumpet player in our local “pops” wind orchestra (65+ members). Wish I hadn’t put the horn down for 30+ years!

Convinced my friend to start playing the sax after 40 years - he plays with me at church and in the “pops” band!

Best thing I ever did (again).
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Glad to Be Here!

Bach Strad Artisan Bb
Bach Strad 238 C
Schilke A2C Cornet
Callet Jazz
Getzen Eterna Flugel

[MarkD]

[MarkD]

[MarkD]

[MarkD]

[EdMann]

Why? I couldn't avoid it. It's what I'm made of and I denied it for decades while making my living in radio and raising my family. Once I dove in, the water was fine and I swam through the usual difficulties: chop issues, negotiating chord changes, mpc safaris, horn purchases, range BS (and it is BS), and I've landed in a very reliable, happy place often playing with some great pros here in LA and enjoying music more than I ever have.

ed

[MarkD]

[Fritz of WA]

I first came back in April 2023, posted about it elsewhere in this forum. I practiced with the Yamaha Silent Brass system for 14 months (not to disturb my condo neighbors). This past July, I began weekly lessons with a pro, and started playing in the open. Was doing pretty well, practicing about 30 to 40 minutes daily, making good improvements. Even got compliments from a couple neighbors.

Then along came cataract surgery time. Had to lay off for a couple weeks, due to increased intraocular pressures (IOPs), both from post-surgery steroid eyedrops and also the known effect that trumpet playing increases IOPs. Just started back at 10 minutes a day after the three-week layoff, got three days in, before BAM --> we are hit with a "bomb cyclone" that rips through and knocks out power. My local outage lasted over four days.

Finally, I have power and have cleaned up the aftermath, and so, I "come back" yet again, at 10 minutes a day for a while, then gradually increasing. Until the other eye gets operated on in January, and I have to repeat the layoff.

But I'll come back!

[jeirvine]

I had tapered down from playing in my mid-20's. I kept my Bach Bb, but put my C and piccolo up for consignment sale at a local brass shop.

Almost a decade later, I was meeting with some guys in the IT department, one of whom looked kind of familiar. We got to talking, and it turned out to be Randy Harrison, the guy who had sold my horns off.

He asked if I was still playing, and I said not really. He said he was a tuba and horn player, but had taken a church gig on trumpet, and was looking for someone to play duets with in the parking garage at lunch to get his trumpet lip in shape. We did that maybe a dozen times, and it all came back quickly - the time off meant I even lost some of the bad habits I had built up before I stopped. He said he played in the Hopkins Symphony which needed trumpets, and that I should audition. I did, got the gig, and haven't looked back.
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'32 King Silvertone
39 Beuscher 240
45 Buescher 400
41 Olds Super
47 Super Cor.
47 Super Rec.
51 Special
62 Recording
48 Holton 48
48 Couesnon
52 Reynolds Cor.
56 Committee
54 Bach 43
68 Bach 239
90 Stomvi Elite

[EdMann]

[MarkD]

[RussellDDixon]

Well, first of all, I haven't had a Gig in probably 25 years. For me, it has been a combination of working second and third shift jobs and moving to the Cincinnati Area and having zero connections that has led to no playing gigs. I am fortunate to have gotten one lesson with Matt Anklan and Bruce Haag since living here (the only lessons I have ever had). Both told me to keep doing what you are doing.

So, I usually quit for three or four months and then pick it back up again for a little while. Usually takes about three weeks to get back in shape. Why ? I don't know. I'd love to play in a band ... just NOT a Community Band. Tried BandMix.com for three years with no luck.

I am going to try something entirely different to see if it can open more playing/teaching opportunities now that I have a regular first shift job with weekends off. If that doesn't workout, I'll probably sell all of my Gear and be done.
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Schilke X3 Bb trumpet
Yamaha 631g Flugelhorn
Nicholson Monette Prana XLT mouthpiece
Kanstul Claude Gordon Personal mouthpiece

[Bethmike]

Why did I come back?

The kids are grown and gone, I wanted to do something artistic, and the sound of a trumpet is like nothing else. On those days when everything is working, and I am playing in a large, traditional, high ceiling church, the sound is beautiful. Even from a hack like me.

Mike
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Bach190ML43
Olds Ambassador in raw brass
Bach NY7
Yamaha 631 Flugel

[MarkD]

[MarkD]

[rwalkerph1]

I quit playing when I moved to the US from the UK, back in 1998. When I arrived here, I was traveling 45+ weeks a year for work, and I couldn't commit to a band, or proactive as I was in a hotel. Then kids came along too. I tried a few times, and took lessons with some amazing teachers (Rich Szabo, Bill Pusey) when I lived in NJ. Then, in 2008, I had a an accident and lost half my right index finger. I thought that I would never come back after that.

Fast forward to 2018, I moved to Seattle, and stopped traveling for work. I started to think about trumpet again, but I didn't have an instrument (I did keep one, but my ex wife decided to destroy it when I filed for divorce). I picked up an instrument and started to play again at the end of the pandemic. I had some bad habits when I quit, and this was an opportunity to start over. I started lessons with Randy Ruback - that was a revelation to start. I've been playing around 3 years or so now. I played in a British Brass Band for a while on Cornet (I grew up up in the genre back in England when I was a kid), and progressed to playing trumpet again, and I now play in a street band and a Mexican Banda.

Why did I come back? My life wasn't the same without music I found. Not only playing, but the sense of community in playing together. I have met amazing people, and had (and continue to have) the best times playing gigs.
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DQ Grande Campana
CB 5060RSM(D) SL
CB 5000YST NL
Olds Ambassador
Schilke B5L (for sale)
Bach Strad 180S37 (for sale)
Besson Sovereign 428 Cornet
HN White Silversonic Cornet
Reynolds Contempora Cornet (for sale)

[MarkD]

[awajazz]

I used to play trumpet from 3rd grade. I was in a marching band and enjoyed the 'gigs'. I was at one time, selected to play TAPS at a memorial day service.

In middle school, I caught pneumonia. I was out of school for two weeks. I stopped playing, not very sure if I would able to play again.

It was around that time when I accidentally discovered jazz while scanning stations on my parent's radio.

From high school to college, I played around with the guitar and it was in the late 70's that I become more interested in jazz. In the early 80's I took jazz piano lessons and learned how to read the "Real Book'.

Fast forward to 2019. I had moved to Japan in 1991, now in the rural suburbs. I was attending monthly 'sessions', playing piano in a group setting, and getting bummed out about travel restrictions and such back to the States. At one session, one young lady trumpeter stood up with her horn and started playing. Goodness, was she happy! Her joy inspired me to think "why not?" My hands were getting a bit stiff. Maybe I could at least give it a try.

So, with some government stimulus money, I bought a used trumpet and some lessons. Almost 4 years later, I practice daily, at least the long tones, some Clarke studies and a tune or so. I now listen to Hargrove, Baker, Davis and Fresu for inspiration and ideas.

The session leader was generous enough to let me try something at each session.

What I have learned is the differences of playing piano and trumpet help me to better understand the respective instruments. I really have not desire to do a live performance. I am just satisfied to play with friends on a regular basis.

Why did I come back? Because I could not live a life without music.
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Yamaha 8335US
Bach 7C

[MarkD]

@awajazz,

Sounds like you’re in a good place now. When I came back in 2020 after a 40 year “break” I found Charlie Porter and Andrea Giuffredi on YouTube.

Charlie is excellent at teaching and I learned a lot from his videos.
Andrea is an incredible performer and his performances really inspired me to get playing again.

Check’em out and see what you think!

Mark

[Bb Brass]

The search for Retirement Hobbies raised a self-styled and eclectic activity set I've labeled

MUSIC EXPLORATIONS

To include any and all aspects of music that I love.

So you might find me listening mostly,
watching a performance on YouTube,
and not uncommonly reading in bed one of a dozen privately owned texts analyzing my loves and filling in the irrevocable effects of then history.

Finally, nothing teaches art quite like doing. So I've bounced among saxophones, cornets, trumpets, keyboards, and amplifiers in just this last year.

MUSIC EXPLORATIONS is an infinite commitment. A space so rich and deep, the experience is only limited by terminal lifetime and perfect taste.