Have any of you ever seen one of these mouthpieces? It’s a G. LeBlanc “Kenny Baker” signature model cornet mouthpiece. I picked it up on eBay years ago, but could never find any info on it. It plays nice, with a mellow edge to the sound, if that makes any sense.
I think most people have good and bad days. As you become more proficient, the bad days tend to be fewer and less severe, and you can compensate so the listener doesn’t really notice a drop-off.
As for diet, rest, and exercise, they’re all important to help you play better, but the effects (good or bad) are more cumulative than immediate. Being relaxed while playing goes a long way, too.
Yes, I measured the normal playing distance from my eyes to the music stand and had a pair of single vision prescription glasses made to focus correctly at that distance, with a decent +- distance tolerance. They work great, and I keep them in the case with whichever horn I’m using at the time. Like you, I had progressive lenses that were pretty useless for reading music.
@GeorgeB said in What is this Conn? Should I purchase?:
Whatever model it is, to me it looks like a WW1 relic...
Here’s the nice one I recently sold. A 1929 model, sold it locally for $350. The buyer said he planned on offering me less, but after seeing It and playing it, he paid me the full price. 
@kehaulani said in Trumpet playing Christmas marathon is over!:
Is that a 38-B?
It’s a 1960 6B Victor. Same architecture as the Connstellation with the wide wrap and large bell flare, but less the slide stops, trigger, and some of the nickel plating.
I agree - the Bach 1-1/2C lends itself to producing a much nicer overall sound than the Bach 3C. In my experience, the 1-1/2C isn’t significantly more demanding to play than the 3C, either. I was surprised to discover that when I bought the 1-1/2C. The cup doesn’t really feel any wider than the 3C, but is a bit deeper. Disclaimer...your mileage may vary...lol
The Marine Band, “The Presidents Own”, is basically a professional band with no boot camp or other military service required. I believe if a person auditions and makes it, there’s just some military etiquette and uniform instruction required. No PT, firearm training, etc. All the other service bands require the members to be regular military, whose primary job is to play in the band.
@bigdub said in Traits that make a great sight reader?:
@dale-proctor said in Traits that make a great sight reader?:
What we really need is an app that just plays the dang trumpet for us...
I know you don’t want that
Of course I was joking, but I don’t want to follow the bouncing ball on an iPad that turns the pages for me, either...
@Curlydoc said in What is this Conn? Should I purchase?:
Does the extra tuning slide lower the pitch, an by how much?
On the 22B, the tuning slide with the rotary valve places the horn in the key of A when the valve is turned one way, and in Bb when turned the other way.
I just finished playing a 3-hour dress rehearsal, five 2-hour concerts, two 1-hour concerts, and a church service over the past 5 days. 1st part on everything except for 2nd part on Rutter’s Gloria. That, and 10 to 15 other pieces (many of them pretty demanding) every concert. Man , what a blow…I began to worry if I’d make it through the whole thing since I basically took 2020 off, didn’t play much in 2021, and have been trying to get back into shape this year. Rutter Gloria 10 times in 5 days…lol
So, what have all of you been playing/rehearsing for the holidays?
I played in church last Sunday (socially distanced quintet), and my wife and I just got our 2nd Covid shots this morning. Already scheduled to play in a brass choir on Easter and have a probable July 4th gig in the works. Playing opportunities seem to be picking up a bit, and my worries about catching or spreading it are fading fast.
Trumpet capos are literally a figment of the imagination...lol.
@Kehaulani
That’s pretty tempting, but I’ll pass for now...lol
I came down with something the 2nd day after my marathon gig was over, and am still not well. I suppose I caught it being around all those people for 5 days in a row. Luckily, I don’t have anything to play for till after New Year’s Day. Hope you have a fast recovery!
@Kehaulani
If I remember correctly (it’s been a year or two since I did it), I noticed more of a difference in response than anything else. I left it that way for a few weeks and never warmed up to the change. I did the alignment on 4 or 5 instruments - one was perfect the way it was so I didn’t change anything, one or two seemed to play better, and one or two played worse to me.
I’m trying to break the pinky ring habit as we speak, and also paying attention to my posture and breath support while playing. As I’m getting older, I need to stop making things harder than they need to be.
Sounds great! I’m sure it was fun to play a gig like that, and I’m happy to hear you’re recovering well.
1960 6B Victor, original lacquer. Great instrument, just like the one I had in high school. Basically a Connstellation without the trigger and nickel plated bell.
The Danish National Symphony
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