@Kehaulani

Who the heck is Lobster Jimmy ?

@Kehaulani

I could never memorize large portions of Liberty Bell but I could the shorter passages that were giving me trouble. But you'll note I said "were giving me trouble " . I actually surprised myself in how well I was doing last night.

@ROWUK said in Fast Tempo and old farts:

@GeorgeB For things at the limit of what I can play (recently 1st trumpet in the orchestra version of Rimsky-Korsakovs Scheherezade), my standard take is to completely memorize the difficult licks. Once I have freed up my eyes, they do not slow my fingers or tongue down any more!

And that makes a lot of sense.

@Comeback

Whatever works, Jim.

@Kehaulani said in Fast Tempo and old farts:

Original performance by the composer and his band:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov1kjVvYpWk&t=47s

Last night's practice went well. The MD slowed the tempo a tad ( I'd say to about the same tempo as heard in Kehaulani's link above ). I only flubbed a couple of places early in the first third of the arrangement. I'm getting there, by golly.

@Kehaulani said in Fast Tempo and old farts:

You know, if you're having finger-speed problems on Liberty Bell, your conductor is taking it at way too fast a tempo.

I thought he was and so did a few others, but most of the band was happy with the fast tempo so I doubt if it will be changed. We'll see tonight because I know for certain we will be spending a lot of time on Liberty Bell.

Jim,
All my trumpets have fast valves so I can't use slow valves as an excuse. I don't think as fast as I used to, and this is more noticeable with each passing year. It happens with age. I just do my best to work it out by repetition of those passages that are slowing me down. It's seems to be working for me now on Liberty Bell so I am starting to feel pretty good about it.

@Kehaulani

Okay, gotcha...

Only three of us on first in our band plus a young lady and older lady on second and third.

Nice to hear there is humor in your band. There's always lots of laughs in ours. That is as it should be. There are a few serious dudes but most of us are here for the fun of socializing and playing music with people we like.

@Dr-GO
Yeah, there is definitely something to that mental component thing, Doc. The one thing, though, that has kept me going during my old age comeback is a stubborn streak. I'm not a quitter and that is why I am making gains on that Sousa march. Actually I am looking forward to see how well I can do at tonight's practice.