Best posts made by fels

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

My first horn was a Conn -- don't remember the model -- I was in Fourth Grade.

I used it successfully into what is now called Middle School and we (my parents and I) looked for an upgrade. Olds Recording.
That was my horn through High School and then into College (although not as a music major).

I took the Recorder with me when I was in a Junior Year Abroad program in Regensburg. It was a new University and a new program. Did not get much play time excepting at a local Atilier bar where I played with local talent. During "Spring Break" my Olds was stolen from my Volkswagen in Spain.

I replaced it with a Selmer (modified) upon returning to the US. Decent horn.

When I intensified my playing, I bought the Bach 37.

As I continued to intensify my playing, I bought my Schilke X3.

Also picked up a used Courtois flugelhorn.

My point is that I was always interested in horns- but not actively looking. Circumstances dictated actions. The Selmer was available at a decent price at the time. The Schilke was available at a decent price at the time. The Courtois showed up on the internet. My advice -- sometimes your horns find you. And depending on the journey, the quality of the horn will suit you.

@trumpetsplus

I was asked to help out with a middle school recording session for their jazz band. The lead trumpet had just had braces and was uncomfortable; my job was to double the first part sans solos. He did very well and has a very nice tone even with braces. After the recording I told him that I thought his tone ( sound ) was great and to focus on maintaining his sound. Technique would come. Agreed with Ivan.

I have Ivan's book on trumpet pieces through history. I use it when I need a break of soft playing and as warm ups. Every week, our twin grandchildren (boy-girl 2 year olds) come over on Wednesdays and spend the day while Mommy works in my basement office. They love coming up to my music room, turn on the trumpet light and sit in their rocking chairs and wait for me to "perform." Typically they want "Row Row Row (your boat)". I play it by ear. Then they want another children's song. So I go through the litany: Wheels on the Bus, Old Grey Mare, Insy Weensy Spider Etc. All by ear, usually in B flat concert. It has occurred to me that my grandchildren have inspired a decent warm up routine -- and it involves scales! After going through the first iteration, I start repeating each around the circle of fifths. Great ear training, good middle to low range warm up, and it involves scales. I have made a note in my iPad Notes --- Papi Tom's Warm Ups.

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

The New Horizons KICKS jazz band is presenting its Fall Concert November 4 in Colorado Springs. (Will post publicity brochure when reduce the file size). Program includes:

Orilla De Mar Jim Martin
Latin Snowfall Mancini/Fluck
Without a Song Kern/Stitzel
Watch What Happens Le Grand/Cervone
Stompin' at the Savoy Sampson/Holman
Livin' Larger than Life Baylock

Love To Barone
My Fonebone Mintzer
The Kicks Band Swings (the blues) Dean Mounts
Fly me to the Moon Howard/Nestico
Emancipation Blues Nelson
Muttnick Quincy Jones
Satin Doll Duke

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.

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.

in 1969-1970, I was in a "Junior Year Abroad" university program in Regensburg. I was supposed to be with a German family, but there were none since it was an introductory year. So the administrators found a sleeping room for me at a Carmalite Monestery - third floor. I had my Olds Recording with me and thought i would try to practice in my room. Did not work so well. Even with a mute. So-- yes-- sometimes circumstances will teach you something that will be useful later in life -- play softly.

@Kehaulani
I merely mentioned Fort Carson because of its influence on the local culture and economy, The focus of my search and submission was the tune itself in the context f the thread.

I thought I had suggested this before but :Groundhog Day:

I will post a new thread (In the appropriate spot) about Community Bands. There are lots of pros and semi-pros posting here. I think the CB group could benefit by some feedback from others who are not former pros or semi pros but just want to play but may be frustrated by the traditional (social) Community Band structure. My view (Like GeorgeB) is the if you are a serious player, albeit a recreational player, you are limited by the expectations of the the preponderance of the Community Band. Namely, socialization, lack of practice etc.experience.

I think this is a good feed for a dedicated thread. For all of the "community band" (or other amateurs): What are you playing? What are your programs? Where are you performing? What are the issues affecting your survival.
I would love to see the programing for other groups around the country. Concert Band, Quintets, Jazz Bands etc..

These may not qualify for the top 5 or even 10. My experience playing with brass quintet or community band is that it is the rhythms that are the first obstacle to playing jazz. From my early years library, I found the following useful for introductory jazz rhythms:

Rhythms Vol 1 and 2 -- Charles Colin and "Bugs" Bower
Modern Dixieland Style Nos 1 and 2 - Henry Levine

I thought I had suggested this before but :Groundhog Day:
I will post a new thread (In the appropriate spot) about Community Bands. There are lots of pros and semi-pros posting here. I think the CB group could benefit by some feedback from others who are not former pros or semi pros but just want to play but may be frustrated by the traditional (social) Community Band structure. My view (Like GeorgeB) is the if you are a serious player, albeit a recreational player, you are limited by the expectations of the the preponderance of the Community Band. Namely, socialization, lack of practice etc.experience.

Ok I highjacked this from another thread.

For Recreational Players -- (and there are sites for that such as Ivan's "Recreational Musical."

The dynamics for recreational players are very difficult. I play in a NH Symphonic Band, NH Jazz Band, and a related Brass Quintet. The level of commitment varies greatly. The structure is strong. Frustrations are also strong. How to cope?

@Kehaulani

I somehow found the Schlossberg routines (LA guys) last year after a few weeks off from pneumonia -- They work very well for rehab and daily or weekly routine practice.

As i listed starting this thread -- our program last Sunday was:

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

Some of these were truncated but nevertheless difficult. It was a long program and we pulled it off. The second group played Holst 2. They pulled it off. The previous week our Jazz band programed:

Day by Day -- arranged by Bill Stapleton
Blue Bossa - arr To Kubis
Girl Talk -- Hefts
In the wee Small Hours -- arr Billy Byers
Satin Doll -- arr Sammy Nestico
Critics Choice -- Oliver Nelson
Tribute - Bob Mintzer
When You Go -- Brown arr by Goeff Keezer
Spectrum - Bob Mintzer
Emanicpatoin Blues - Olliver Nelson
Splanky - Hefti

these were all original professional charts -- and we did very well.

My point is not to limit or discount "community bands".

I just came home from a rehearsal of a community band. We are reading through potential pieces for our fall concert. I am the trumpet section leader. We are reading grade 4 + pieces. As i talk to the individual members of the section, I know that i am influenced by what i read in TB. I am registered at TH but don't post because i have little to add to that group. I don't post often here at TB; I enjoy reading the various topics, and I pass on the good stuff to the others that i come into contact. Thats cool.