Posts made by flugelgirl

The majority of the time, I’m listening to and studying various forms of jazz. It speaks to my soul in ways nothing else does, and always has. While I do enjoy classical music, most of it that I listen to is in preparation for playing. I like the music, I like the challenge, I like playing horns in various keys and I especially like not being labeled as a One-Trick Pony. I also love rock, funk, disco, and all sorts of contemporary horn bands, and really love playing it, but still nothing speaks to me the way jazz does. I have not played in a wind ensemble in close to 4yrs and don’t miss it at all, but I sure am missing everything else right now!

The only woodworking I do is guitar related. My neighbor is a retired carpenter and is always looking for something to do, and has built me a few things out of boredom! Here’s the awesome vise bench he built me and bolted to the wall in about 3hrs!

I really like Craig Fraedrich’s books, especially his older scale studies book. I like the new theory book he has out, though - great way to introduce a student to jazz theory. Each example includes playing exercises at the end of each lesson, which makes so much more sense than treating it as a classroom type subject.
Here’s the link to the older scale book:
http://craigfraedrichmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Treble-Scales-1.pdf

I also really like Patterns for Jazz, and Pat Harbison’s technical studies book.

Here’s the only thing I’ve done lately to pimp any of my horns - pearls on my C5L were worn out, so I had my buddy Brent (PUJE trumpets) replace them with stones. They turned out nice, and are much better than the worn, uneven surface of the old pearls! He offered to sell me the inlays, but I have enough projects and he’s all set up for it. I’d already put it off long enough!
I tend to buy horns I already like and switch them out when I don’t. I’ve play tested enough to realize that you can play horns from different manufacturers with the same features and they will be completely different. With some manufacturers multiple horns of the same model feel completely different! I’ve also realized that horns are tools, and as players we grow and change. What worked for you 10yrs ago may be holding you back today, and there’s no shame in switching to something that suits your needs better.

Listening to a whole lot of satellite radio - some good on demand shows as well as the jazz stations I normally listen to on my commute. I’ve been doing some French horn dent work, and I like disco and funk for that! Bell throat dents need some repetitive motion, and it works well for that

Here’s my newest addition - a 1947 80A. Plays as pretty as it looks!

My first flugel was a Getzen Capri - great horn. I played it for 17yrs before I found something that did the job better for me, and when I sold it I made $200 more than I paid. These days the only Getzen I own is a Super Deluxe a friend gave me that’s patiently awaiting me to replace its crushed bell. I have the bell - eventually I’ll get around to it! That model is her favorite horn (she has a perfect one), so when the cornet showed up at work I bought it for her. I’ll ship it out as soon as soon as things lighten up a bit!

@Comeback said in Getzen Club:

@tmd said in Getzen Club:

I've never owned a Getzen Bb trumpet, although the new Eterna Deluxe horns look tempting.

Mike

These horns caught my eye too, Mike, though some of the available finishes are a bit too much for my taste. I have not tried one nor seen one, but I would like to.

Jim

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dillonmusic.com%2Fgetzen-eterna-deluxe-series.html&psig=AOvVaw1wydwr8OcHThehW42tb7cw&ust=1587842773239000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIj--7nlgekCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
We had one of these in shop recently. While it definitely had a nod to the older designs, it’s a bit different. Nice enough horn, but not what I would want to gig with. Not quite as resonant as I would like - didn’t speak clearly or easily enough for me.

I started on a Cleveland cornet exactly like that! It plays like a sewer pipe, and is currently in my home shop waiting to become a lamp. I kept it all these years just so some other poor kid wouldn’t get stuck with it! My replacement for it was a 1960 Benge 3X that my first private teacher sold us for less than it was worth because he didn’t want me to play that cornet any more. I don’t own that horn anymore, but played it from 7th grade through most of college! Wish I still had it - he had bought it from Bobby Shew when they were playing together in Las Vegas.

Until I started studying Jazz as a kid, my mother thought Jazz was Guy Lombardo and thought she hated it. After being exposed to my Jazz education, she now has a collection that rivals mine and listens regularly! She plays flute quite well and took lessons growing up, even went to All State, but never really listened to anything but Classical and Rock before I was around.

Every time I was called on to play Last Post while in the Navy I spent a few days memorizing so I wouldn’t have to carry a flip - looks better that way! The last time I recorded a few phone videos to make sure I had it right and sent one to my mum. She sent it to our cousin in Newfoundland, who cried. That’s when I knew I had it right! I won’t be playing outside today - it’s raining and my current neighbors wouldn’t know what it was, anyway.

@Shifty Thanks! This one was built for modern water key springs. I replaced all felts, corks and water key springs - old ones were deteriorated. It’s been cleaned, polished, and I removed some small dents. This one is available for purchase and should be listed some time next week. If anyone is interested they can contact the shop via email or Facebook message - the boss would be happy to make a deal before it lists, as it saves us time and money!

My most recent Bench blog post...
https://www.brassandwinds.com/blogs/news/what-s-on-my-bench-a-1911-conn-new-invention-circus-bore-cornet

My morning warm up includes a section of flexibilities - just enough to help get ready for the day and make shakes work right. When I was in college trying to learn shakes, I did sections of the Colin Lip Flexibilities as a warm up every other day, and it worked quite well. Went back to that alternating with Claude Gordon when I had to work myself back from sick and injured later on, and it worked very well.
My dogs seem to think flexibilities are Happy Puppy Sing -a-long time. It was cute the first couple of times, and not so cute years later!

That Connquerer is pretty! I’m working on a New Invention Circus Bore right now in silver and gold with lovely engraving. It’ll be up on our shop blog soon. I have a few nice Conns of my own I’ll have to post later, once I’m done working for the day.

Might be a 24B. Both 22B and 24B play well, this one looks like it needs work. I would try to get it for $100 or less, depending on how much is stuck or how much plating is left on the pistons.

One of my college instructors once told me that getting really proficient at sight reading means seeing it in a series of familiar patterns. He was right! It becomes better with repetition, and part of that is knowing your key center in all 12 keys so you just don’t have to think about it. The longer you spend having to think before reacting, the more behind you are, and time doesn’t wait for any of us.

WOW a lot of stuff seemed to happen here in a few hours! Glad there’s a few left who can still be civil to each other! I would think that given the current lack of social interaction it might be better to be kind to each other. To think I missed all this drama while working on some modal scale patterns is kind of funny, though!

To pass a Junior Standing audition( a requirement to take Senior level classes) when I was a college music major(Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance) I had to be able to play all maj/min scales two octaves, and also all modal, alt, and dim scales two octaves from memory. I also had to have 8 standards memorized, melody and changes, and perform any the board called. If I glossed over any changes in my improv, they would ask me what the changes were and have me play the corresponding scales. I passed without issue because I practiced a lot and was well prepared. The Navy only asked me to perform two octaves maj/min scales - those auditions were easier except for having to perform so much classical literature. I work on patterns more than scales at this point in my life - being able to put them to use is a lot more valuable than just playing them up and down.