Excerpted from the Pikes Peak Jazz and Swing Society monthly newsletter ( on line):

Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.
I used to spin that toilet paper roll like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I'm cracking a safe.
I don't think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks we'd go from Standard Time to the "Twilight Zone".
Home-schooling is going well. Two students suspended for fighting and one teacher fired for drinking on the job.
I'm SO excited--it's time to take out the trash. What should I wear?
Still haven't decided where to go for Easter--The Living Room, The Kitchen or The Bedroom...

Our Community Band is performing on Sunday - Professional venue - program is below. A bit of a chop buster.

Coronation March - Tchaikovsky
Mambo - L Bernstein
Gershwin Tribute to Love
Raiders March - Williams
An American Elegy - Tichelli
Suite Francaise - Milhaud
Liberty Bell March - Sousa
The Lord of the Dance

I agree with ROWUK. I started playing trumpet in third grade (no lessons) - gave it up but took up piano lessons -- resumed trumpet in 5th grade (no lessons) - continued both piano and trumpet --- between sixth grade and junior high school (6 grade to 7) i had my first lessons -- took lessons in both piano and trumpet throughout junior high and first two years of high school. Then moved to a nearby city - no lessons. Bought an illegal "fake book" and took a few lessons on piano from a teacher who for the first time in my "education" introduced me to the circle of fifths. No more trumpet lessons for twenty years. Then, perhaps one year of lessons from the local symphonic principal. He introduced me to long tones and breath attacks.

Otherwise - it is the love of music and the drive to get better at what you do.

depends on where i am going and what i am playing.
always in there:

lip balm
valve oil
water bottle
ear plugs ( in case i am in front of the drummer)
multi tool
cotton or micro fiber cloths
mutes for the gig
sandwich if i am driving through lunch or dinner

Thanks for the note on the TH site -- glad to be here.

@fels

Second post - Living in Colorado Springs -- The City is building a center at the Summit of Pikes Peak. The attached video is from the Army trumpet ensemble -- (Fort Carson is nearby)
America the Beautiful

A friend ( trumpet player in our jazz and quintet groups) is a martial artist - very accomplished. I sent him a routine for "recovery after illness" that included long tones and various Schlossberg routines. For his benefit I described them as the equivalent of trumpet (Tai Chi). He thought it appropriate.

Colorado Springs -- High Country Brass

We are performing Ewald Quintet 2 (only 1st movement because of time restrictions) - Do Nothing till You hear from Me (Elkjer arrangement) and an arrangement of Japanese Video Game Music "Storming the Castle." Fun program.

Our Brass Quintet played for Jewish service a couple of weeks ago. Several folks came up afterward and suggested we schedule another service followed by additional music after the service in the community room. We would love to do this but would like to include Klezmer. Any suggestions for brass quintet arrangements in klezmer style?

@Dr-Mark
Training dogs and practicing the trumpet are similar endeavors. Once started, both require constant attention to detail and commitment of time. It is never "over."

@fels
Update February

I was playing a long tone exercise (Stamp) this evening on my flugelhorn. I noticed (perhaps it was there before but I just noticed it) that the left cheek and lip corner was very stiff and "condensed", the right was very relaxed. Just another symptom waiting for a diagnosis. I still think it is related to the MOHS surgery on the back of my neck.

@fels
three months from my initial post - four months from the MOHS.

Numbness continues at the back of the ear and along the left cheek; sometimes swelling of left lower lip. Fortunately, heat packs and slow warm ups allow me to play as before. Sooooo , I guess as long as I'm careful I can proceed to play as adjusted.

Adding more technology means more chance of failure.

Agreed

Also did the distance measurements. My music bifocals help immensely

Mostly operator error -- tapping my foot to much on the floor pad

I agree - just be sure to have paper back up during a performance in case your pad freezes up or the software glitches.

@Kehaulani

Will check it out -- thanks.

I am preparing for a brass quartet version (Music for Brass arranged by Daniel Kelley)
of Bach's Little Fugue. Lots of face time - very little opportunity for breathing. I am working on it at a slow tempo to get the notes and intervals under my fingers and ears. But the breathing is equally important. Practicing , I may try to muscle through it. But it is more important to let the music part be the guide -- where are the beginnings and ends of the phrases -- where are you the lead versus the support. Breath in the support - prepare for the lead.

@Dr-GO Yes, as with yours, my Mohs hole was large -- the surgeon had to excise up and down in order to suture the main hole. -- Looked like a Frankenstein stitch. I also am hopeful that the two month window will hold true. Your nerve issue sounds
more localized whereas mine is directly involving the Lower Occipital Nerve path. In the meantime I will continue with acupuncture and homeopathy.

As background - after COVID, virtually all of my playing opportunities ceased. I continued practicing a general program every day, even working on specific literature pieces. Nothing that was over taxing. Continued to play in our Brass Quintet and a Community Chamber Music program.

About a month ago I underwent a MOHS surgery for Base Cell Carcinoma on the back of my neck (left side - midway between the ear alignment and the cervical spine). The surgery went down four levels and left a golf ball size divit that was stitched up. At the first post surgery check, I noted numbness radiating up from the surgery site to the back of my ear (mastoid). Repeated observation and post ops 2 and 3. Stitches removed etc.

I followed my basic maintenance practice,

After a rehearsal for an All Saints Day Mass, I noticed my lower left lip swelling and increased numbness in the left cheek - radiating up into the left eye orbit.

For a brass player this is: WTF!

I changed my practice routine and monitored the numbness.

Basically - numbness has continued up the neck - and the left cheek feels like i just left the dentist office after a crown. I feel the lack of responsiveness when practicing. I was concerned for the Mass gigi - but all went well.

I played yesterday at ensemble group and felt not quite in control but managed. Practiced today and feel the left side not responding like i want.

My research suggests that the MOHS surgery could have impacted the lower occipital nerve resulting in neuralgia. The facility numbness is more problematic (trigeminal nerve) since that nerve does not normally interact with the lower occipital nerve.

The Mohs surgeon's office responds that numbness may last up to 12 months, otherwise no instruction.

On my own, I am pursuing treatment with acupuncture and homeopathy.

Overall, not a happy experience. All advice welcome - mostly daily practice management is on my mind.