Western Europe Group

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@stumac said in Behold, Trihornicus Maximus:

@administrator How does lt play?

It's a little out-of-tune, if you get my drift.

I've heard it's fantastic, but tough. Great for a student to earn their tuition!

So, I would clarify that what this individual does is 100% legal. He sells a program, you hand over the cash and he gives you access to the program.

The problem is that the general market value of what he offers is probably 15% of what he charges. So, kinda like a used car dealer. It's legal but probably unethical.

@administrator I seem to remember details about that kid of scam elsewhere here...

Here it is, under the title of Matt Brockman: SCAM:

"
administrator
administrator Global Moderator
Mar 3, 2024, 6:59 PM

It has come to my attention that an unscrupulous sleaze ball is ripping off unsuspecting individuals who are looking to improve their trumpet skills.

This is a PSA: Matt Brockman is a hustler & scammer. His program is not worth 1/10 of what he offers. Please do not purchase anything he is selling.

Please see the following threads:

https://www.reddit.com/r/trumpet/comments/1812yta/matt_brockman_sales_pitch/

https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=161676&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=549c6012863e691194d4a650fefd2662

@Sadmusic said in Just an update and a warning:

Some of you may be aware of Matt Brockman and his dishonest practice with The Brock Trumpet or Trumpet Mastery. You may not be aware that he scammed $6800 out of me and I have spent months trying to enlist legal help to stop him from doing this to others. I will admit he has a pretty good racquet and hiding scheme. However, you and I know false words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil. I was not able to stop this dishonorable man but my hope is that someone will. He is cruel.

Please describe in detail your experience.

@Kehaulani-0 I have my two inclusive Autistic music groups - www.auti-group-web.de and Soundtistics, sponsoring members always welcome!
But there is nothing around even slightly approaching a brass band - the only thing I tried out was a wind band specializing on movie music, called Filmharmonie Wien; but as they rehearse in a location without assured parking, I had to abandon that idea (since my stroke in November 2023 I am dependent on two crutches; and my Autism prevents me from getting public transport, quite apart from the fact that I would need to walk about half a mile with two crutches and a big gig bag...).
All the other bands around are traditional Austrian oompah bands who require a lot of marching and the wearing of traditional Austrian costume - and I have had my fill of that. Quite apart, the usual round of waltz - march - polka tends to get tedious...

@Kehaulani-0 Yes to your question, "Did you bring it up?" Yes, I did - several times. First time when they forgot to bring music for me. Second time when they invited me onto flugel. I asked them, "will I be able to hold on to that chair?" and their reply was, "yes, indefinitely, as long as you like." As a result, I had a friend of mine - the composer Philip R. Buttall - make an arrangement of his Eclogue for Flugelhorn (one of my favourite pieces, and one that was composed for me and is dedicated to me) for brass band and presented it to the band, at my own expense.
Not two months later, they shoved me onto repiano (four weeks before a concert, which I greatly resented). I told them I would not like another instance of such behaviour.
As to the new conductor... the former conductor is a professional trumpet player with many years in a renowned German brass band under his belt. When he resigned (and was relegated to Bb bass), I several times told the Committee that the new guy should be someone with brass band experience and that I knew someone who could adequately fill that role. Next thing I knew was the Committee's announcement about the new conductor (the chor guy).
Still, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and even offered my help - I even bought more suitable sheet music and donated it to the band.
Since then - almost year - not single one of these pieces has been even looked at, and my offers of explaining the true nature of brass bands to the new MD were declined... and when I offered to take on the MD's job myself, I was rejected as "not experienced enough."
It's true, I don't have a glittering diploma; but I have been playing in brass bands for over 35 years now and have conducted quite a few, usually with fair success - amongst others, there are two Irish bands that were on the brink of dissolution when I was asked to take over, and they are now alive and kicking. And having attended conducting masterclasses with Roger Payne, Phil McCann and Derek Broadbent might possibly be thought more appropriate for being a brass band conductor than having studied choir leading and recorder at a conservatory...
But then, the band is an official Scouts' band, and both the band president (who took over on flugelhorn) and the new conductor are Scouts... and I never was...

I am pi$$ed off.
Totally.
What happened?
Several years back, I joined a British Brass Band somewhere in Austria (location on request), and was put on Sop. I was very ok with that - until someone else came and wanted to play sop (without any brass band experience). Without being asked, I was put onto 1st baritone. Still was sometimes asked to sub for the sop. But usually was shifted around between both baritones and both euphs, according to rehearsal needs. Then, they returned me to sop. Ok.
A few weeks later, the band held a three-day training camp far off in the mountains (four hours' drive). And somehow, they forgot to take all the sop music. So I was there, without music and without another instrument to revert to. I left the camp.
For another year, I was shifted around, never knowing which instrument I was going to play before the rehearsal. A very unsettling experience - so I left the band.
A year later, they approached me and asked me whether I would like to play flugelhorn (my dream instrument) with them, and assured me that I would be able to hold that seat for as long as I wished. OK. I rejoined.
Three months later, on arrival at a rehearsal. I was told to switch to repiano cornet. Someone else had taken the flugel chair. And for a year or so, I did that job. Reliably.
And only yesterday they sent a message in band WhatsApp group announcing that someone else was taking the repiano chair. Someone without much experience in the brass band world.
No mention of any further role for me in that band.
I am the more pi$$ed off because I brought several good, reliable players into the band, organized fundraising events for them and even sold some of my cornets to band members who only had trumpets, at ridiculous prices (such as a fully restored, silver plated Besson International for € 300), just to get the cornet section properly kitted out...
Seems they want me to leave.
But then, some of them are already hankering after their former oompah band outlay with clarinets, and the new conductor has no brass band experience whatsoever - by training, he is a choir master and does not himself play any brass instrument - and has been putting on big band and film music repertoire...
Unfortunately, the nearest British Brass Band around is some 200 miles away...