Lifelong musician, beginning trumpeter
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Hello forum:
My name is Joel Fass. I've been a professional guitarist-composer-songwriter for most of my nigh 67 years, active in jazz and somewhat in pop.
I always have been in love with trumpet, perhaps more so flugelhorn. As a single-note improviser I've used that dark; round sound as a model and a 'simulated air column'---a longtime jazz guitar approach.
I finally took the plunge last winter and got me a horn, a decent, clean Hoffer student model---OK to start out with. I had no illusions about making quick progress, knowing at least that lips on brass is not at 1st natural. I reasoned that if nothing else learning some fingering and breath control would give me some good orchestration insight. But I really do want to play, at least for myself.
These 1st months really kicked my behind and humbled me. Just to get a sound; go through lip buzzes; breathing to the metronome; achieve a beginning embouchure. I hit on a local (Philly) player friend to teach me, and he graciously accepted. Now at least I've just started to be able to make the open C G high C and the 1st 4 of a C scale. Believe me, it's progress when 2 weeks ago I could hardly control air passage enough to play any note in tune.
It's a test of patience when you know music having been involved for your life, but now must start as a baby switching to the 'brave new world'---but I'm determined, and inspired.
Advice an encouragement would be welcome. Thanks!...
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Oh... the progress will grow exponentially.... after about 20 years! But until that time, linear growth is fun as well. Your progress will ALWAYS be dependent on endurance. So the fact that you have a teacher, your linear growth phase will have a more rapid slope.
I started out as a keyboard player, a Hammond B-3. Two levels of keyboards and several octaves of foot pedals. BUT just flip the switch off and on with the Leslie... and man, ANYTHING on that organ will sound good!
Now, reflecting back, with all that multiple tasking to achieve on an organ, I still found the trumpet more of a challenge, as it is all about your physiology conquering the physics of brass tubing... and to me, that is very gratifying.
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@dr-go said in Lifelong musician, beginning trumpeter:
Oh... the progress will grow exponentially.... after about 20 years! But until that time, linear growth is fun as well. Your progress will ALWAYS be dependent on endurance. So the fact that you have a teacher, your linear growth phase will have a more rapid slope.
I started out as a keyboard player, a Hammond B-3. Two levels of keyboards and several octaves of foot pedals. BUT just flip the switch off and on with the Leslie... and man, ANYTHING on that organ will sound good!
Now, reflecting back, with all that multiple tasking to achieve on an organ, I still found the trumpet more of a challenge, as it is all about your physiology conquering the physics of brass tubing... and to me, that is very gratifying.
Yeah, and the tactile qualities on keyboards are cold in the sense that once you hit a note that's 'it'---it's touch; pedaling; or on organ stops that give the illusion of pitch change or bends. (You can do it on a synth, but it's really its own language). At least on guitar you can bend and gliss notes to simulate certain horn qualities. Once electric guitars came in vogue great soloists like Charlie Christian were able to 'cop'---CC got a lot from Lester Young. So that horn simulation was relatively easy for my brethren and I. On a keyboard you have to do a lot more convincing!
But it's not like my 56 years on guitar help even a drop toward the trumpet not kicking my ass---having the vocabulary is a double-edged sword: it beats having to develop musical knowledge and experience along with chops, but it's frustrating as hell when you can't apply it b/c you don't know what the hell you're doing yet.
But patience and persistence will carry the day. Straight ahead---to ALL of us!...
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@joelf Welcome to TrumpetBoards! You're wise to have asked someone to help guide you on your journey. Bad habits are harder to develop when you have the input of someone who knows the proper way of doing things. Enjoy!
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If you are already a musician, get a copy of the old Mitchell on Trumpet series. Start with Book 1. It's kind of boring, but it systematically progresses through everything you need to know and develop as a cornetist.
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@joelf Welcome to TB! You've come to the right place to find company and advice. There are three No-Nos here:
- No politics
- No woodwinds
- No shirking
And there are three Musts:
- Must check in regularly (even if only once a month) because there's so much new stuff coming in
- Must always be ready for a joke to be flung around
- Must always keep track of the number of instruments you have (incurable n+1 syndrome)
Oh, and one final obligation:
HAVE FUN!
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Welcome, Joel. Seems you already have a solid music background so you are half way there in becoming a trumpet player.
I played in my teens and twenties ( 1953 to 1965 ) and quit to concentrate on a career in publishing. I made a come back at age 79. Kinda tough to start all over again at that age, but I had a good teacher back in 1953 (a professional trumpet player) who taught me things I never forgot. I started my come back in March of 2016 and by the fall I was playing first chair with a local seniors band.The trumpet can be a bitch, but it was and always will be the only instrument for me. Good luck.
George
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Thank you all...
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Welcome! I totally understand the frustration of starting a new instrument, though my journey is the opposite of yours! I started ukulele a month ago, but have been getting paid to play the trumpet for 35yrs, and they are nothing alike! What is the same, though, is understanding how to practice efficiently and fit it in your schedule. I hope you have a lot of fun! I certainly am having fun with uke, even though Iām still kind of terrible!
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Welcome. I think you'll find it a fulfilling journey. Trumpet is an easy instrument to play, incredibly difficult to master. A private teacher will definitely help you, but once you get to the point where you can make some decent sounds it gets to be very fun and exciting.
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@flugelgirl said in Lifelong musician, beginning trumpeter:
Welcome! I totally understand the frustration of starting a new instrument, though my journey is the opposite of yours! I started ukulele a month ago, but have been getting paid to play the trumpet for 35yrs, and they are nothing alike! What is the same, though, is understanding how to practice efficiently and fit it in your schedule. I hope you have a lot of fun! I certainly am having fun with uke, even though Iām still kind of terrible!
Benny Golson gave a clinic in '04 for the defunct IAJE. He took questions.
Mine was about instruments that the jazz vocab doesn't quite lay on---like guitar---and therefore have a steeper learning curve.
Benny's answer broke me up: 'I loved the guitar so much I bought one. But the learning curve turned out so steep I sold it!'...
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Progress! I can play open C G high C in long, in tune tones---AND the opening strains of When I Grow Too Old to Dream---a good, easy and diatonic tune to start with. I even ventured a bit of Moanin'---Eb!
Straight ahead...
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Nice going, Joel.
Also, When I Grow Too Old To Dream is an excellent tune to practice with because it covers the staff well throughout the arrangement.
George
