Hello to everyone I’m new here and hail from Ridgefield Washington which happens to be the fastest growing city in the state. People are flocking here for the relaxed country way of life. Houses are expensive but many are on acreage although some subdivision style homes are being built but the pace of life is relaxed and still feels like a small town in the countryside. Downtown Ridgefield is like walking back in time with a grocery store with wood floors and a hardware store where the owners actually help you find what you need and are knowledgeable.
Enough about where I live but now my story.

I played violin viola and cello all through middle school and into high school. Was good at it being the concertmaster. But in HS I decided that my friends in the band were having more fun with playing at ball games and an annual home and home band trip. All things the Orchestra didn’t do in HS . Since I was well known within the school music department the band director knew me so one summer I asked him if I could borrow a tenor saxophone over the summer and if I could play it in the fall could I have a place in the band. He didn’t think I could do it but he needed more saxophone players so he said yes. By fall I had earned a spot in the band and played in all the school bands until graduation also picking up the clarinet as well. Got a tuition scholarship for college to play both strings and sax and clarinet which I did until graduation and then didn’t have time for music as family and career took most of my time. Missed the music world and figured I would get back to it later in life.
However a cruel thing happened I had a stroke at age 48 and lost the use of my left hand and arm and was forced to retire early. Wanted to get back into music but my paralysis made playing what I knew impossible so I looked to what I could play with one hand and decided trumpet so I bought a nice used Blessing trumpet and like the saxophone years ago proceeded to teach myself how to play it.
I’m not great but can get by and play in tune but I am happy to be back sort of. I’m hoping to get good enough to play with a community band. It’s going to take more work but I’m okay with that.
Looking forward to learning from everyone here.

Hello to everyone I’m new here and hail from Ridgefield Washington which happens to be the fastest growing city in the state. People are flocking here for the relaxed country way of life. Houses are expensive but many are on acreage although some subdivision style homes are being built but the pace of life is relaxed and still feels like a small town in the countryside. Downtown Ridgefield is like walking back in time with a grocery store with wood floors and a hardware store where the owners actually help you find what you need and are knowledgeable.
Enough about where I live but now my story.

I played violin viola and cello all through middle school and into high school. Was good at it being the concertmaster. But in HS I decided that my friends in the band were having more fun with playing at ball games and an annual home and home band trip. All things the Orchestra didn’t do in HS . Since I was well known within the school music department the band director knew me so one summer I asked him if I could borrow a tenor saxophone over the summer and if I could play it in the fall could I have a place in the band. He didn’t think I could do it but he needed more saxophone players so he said yes. By fall I had earned a spot in the band and played in all the school bands until graduation also picking up the clarinet as well. Got a tuition scholarship for college to play both strings and sax and clarinet which I did until graduation and then didn’t have time for music as family and career took most of my time. Missed the music world and figured I would get back to it later in life.
However a cruel thing happened I had a stroke at age 48 and lost the use of my left hand and arm and was forced to retire early. Wanted to get back into music but my paralysis made playing what I knew impossible so I looked to what I could play with one hand and decided trumpet so I bought a nice used Blessing trumpet and like the saxophone years ago proceeded to teach myself how to play it.
I’m not great but can get by and play in tune but I am happy to be back sort of. I’m hoping to get good enough to play with a community band. It’s going to take more work but I’m okay with that.
Looking forward to learning from everyone here.