Best posts made by Dr GO

Sometimes the "thyroid" running low is just a numbers thing. The most important number is the TSH. If that is in the normal range and your T4 is a bit low, it's no big deal, it's just your body's way of saying it doesn't need a lot of the hormone for the cells to kick in at effective metabolism. In this case if you're feeling well, I would not take it further at this time.

If your TSH was normal, I would do nothing else other than follow it up in a couple years OR if you do experience symptoms of:

Fatigue
Depression
Memory slowing
Weight gain
Thick, dough like skin
Hair loss
Low body temperature
Pulse is low - Slow heart beat
(for women, menstrual irregularity or infertility)

@Dr-Mark said in S.H.I. Spontaineous Harmonic Improvization:

The way SHI works is to get with the other horn player and agree that whenever someone comes up with a little motif or riff, they share it with the other horn player...

So a year ago, the Jazz Director at the University of Dayton (Willie Morse, an alto sax player) asked me to play a gig with him at this bar in downtown Dayton called Hanna's. He has had me sub with many of his university jazz ensembles, and they were always guaranteed to be an exceptional musical experience with all the fine music majors at UD (Go Flyers!). So of course I said sure.

When I got there 15 minutes before the gig started it was just Willie on stage. So I asked him where the rhythm section was to set up (so I wouldn't get in their way), and he replied: Well buddy, it's just you and me.

I NEVER in my professional career just played with another horn and have no chordal instrument backing me up. A wave of embarrassment and fear passed through me. But then we started, reading through tunes he called out in the Real Books. MAN DID WE COOK! So as you so stated, Dr. Mark, one of us played the lead while the other comped. Like piano or guitar line comping. Then on a wink or nod, the lead line changed and the other person comped. And while the improv soloist was performing, the comping became a bit more subtle. But what I was truly amazed with, was how full the sound was with just two solo instruments playing such a venue.

What an amazing experience this was, with Spontaneous Harmonic Improvization to the MAX. The club owner was so impressed (or cheap 'cause he only had to pay 2 musicians - you be the judge) that he booked the two of us for many more gigs.

@GeorgeB said in Artist on BOARD:

@BigDub
Wow, a definite departure....

Yeah, I think he was doing "pot" at the time!

@ButchA said in DUH!! I finally figured it out, after all these years! (playing with minimal pressure):

I played a gig tonight (6:00 - 8:00) at a local pub here in town, as a prelude to the annual Oktoberfest... a simple adjustment to my embouchure!

I can see the frown!

@barliman2001 said in >OLDS Recording...:

Ok, had a longish - four and a half hours - Big Band rehearsal (www.bbmf.de) yesterday evening. Had the Recording with me for the first time.
...A horn that can sing almost like a flugel, whisper, and strip paint at the slightest provocation in that direction. Just what I wanted... only one horn has ever done that to me, and that was another Balanced model - a 1950s Courtois.

I have that experience with my Harrelson Summit. It has a large bell so when playing with on open embouchure, a rich flugel like sound is generated. But add a focused blow directed right down into the throat it not only peals paint, but then reseals it into the next room!

@GeorgeB said in Longest Layoff:

@flugelgirl said in Longest Layoff:

I become a very dark and mean person when I’m not playing enough - one of the many reasons I’ve never stopped. I like who I am a whole lot better when I’m playing, and so does everyone else!

Especially your husband if you are married...

Not to mention avoiding all those psychiatry co-pays!

@Kehaulani said in countries / states represented here?:

O.K. then, "how many countries are being represented here on TrumpetBoards", thanks.

U.S. here, officially. But functionally, also Japan and Germany. Hope this gives this better focus.

By the way, I am often in the state of confusion!

The Beach Boys had the answer to this... It takes "Good, Good, Good... Good Vibrations"

@georgeb said in About Olds Ambassadors:

@dr-go

Were there just certain years for the Ambassador ?

Mine was from the mid-60's. I believe TMD's is from the late 50's. His is a nice horn as well.

I have seen this in my practice related more to body piercing and ear rings. The symptoms (as noted above) of chronic exposure (when wearing the metal) are even more impressive. Eliminating the contact is the obvious treatment, and I found substituting the metal (or moving to a higher quality product not including Ni) is still an alternative such that jewelry may still be used.

I try to avoid use of steroid in cartilaginous areas (such as the ear) but in non-cartilaginous areas a steroid cream can be used to heal the blisters faster for the metal change to then be made. For the ear, I find just using mineral oil will help as well without risk of damaging cartilage.

So for most trumpet players that will heal the rash, a topical steroid would work... but if you play by ear... maybe not?

GeorgeB I am so sorry for your loss.

@BigDub

I personally don't paint by numbers. I use braille. Interesting thing is the finished version has a lot of texture to it.

Nicely done. Very relaxed sound, That was you frown embouchure, correct?

@dale-proctor said in About Olds Ambassadors:

I don’t think you’ll find many (or any at all) professional players, past or present, using an Ambassador outside of the jazz/big band world. I used an Ambassador trumpet with good success in a big band for a few years, but it wasn’t acceptable for classical playing.

Dale, I absolutely agree with this. My comments above relate to the most types of playing I do which is small jazz ensembles. But when I play classical, my Recordings get that gig. Their sound is rich and they can really sing.

@Richard-III said in Could you have a metal allergy?:
You said: "A watch or ring worn continuously for weeks will eventually give me a rash."

This is because it takes hours to days to develop nickel contact dermatitis, as opposed to minutes to hours to develop a poison ivy contact dermatitis (as the plant's oils bring the allergen into the lipid layers of the skin much more quickly). So I am betting if you paste a nickle mouthpiece to your lips (disclaimer - I do not recommend this), you would likely develop this rash as well.

The lad in the post is a trumpet student, and I bet did spend hours a day on the horn, making him even more sensitive to developing a lip contact dermatitis to nickel.

@GeorgeB said in Longest Layoff:

@Dr-GO
Thanks.
It's been 8 years, Doc, but you know, I never really got over it and probably never will. She was something else.

I truly understand. My wife is a cancer survivor. I remember those emotional days of surgery, radiation, chemo. I was there EVERY day to be by her side. She had an aggressive form of HER2+ breast cancer... AND A GREAT ONCOLOGIST. She is now 8 years out from therapy and remains cancer free.

@Tobylou8 said in A little humour:

I had a dream the ocean was filled with orange soda.

It was a Fanta Sea

Maybe down South, but not up North where it's Canada Dry!

@Tobylou8 said in Is Air Needed To Play The Trumpet:

@Dr-GO A "sigh" or phew of relief!

More like Phoooowwwwwww... Just call me air-o-gent.

@georgeb said in About Olds Ambassadors:

@j-jericho

I'm not thinking of an Ambassador to replace anything I presently own... But the used pro models are very pricey, so I was just curious about the Ambassador line.

I look at it this way George, the horn plays great and is very inexpensive that I do all my vacation traveling with it such that if it is lost or stolen, there is minimal volume loss.