Best posts made by Mike Ansberry


I posted this over at TH but thought I'd share it here too:

I'm really happy with the progress I've made using BE. In addition to my BE routine and other stuff I've added playing real book melodies up an octave. I have been able to play tunes up to the G above high C. I don't claim to own that note. It is thin and ugly, but it is there. During my BE routine I can play exercises above the G, some days up to double C. But again they are not really usable yet. But they are there. My endurance is also way up.

I am very anxious to have a gig. I haven't played a gig since March. I hope what I have worked on in practice will translate to the job. The proof is in the pudding where the rubber meets the road.

A friend gave me a 1957 Conn 12b. He was expressing his gratitude for repair I’ve done for him over the years. It is a little beat up but I can fix that. MAN, WHAT A GORGEOUS SOUND IT HAS!!!

The reason for kicker slides:

The basic trumpet is built to play in tune when using no valves. Lowering the pitch a half step is based on a percentage of the overall length. So when you use your second valve it is built at the correct percentage. When you play with just the first valve down it is a correct percentage. When you push down the first and the second valve, the valves are built on a percentage of the overall length of the open instrument. But now with two valves down the overall length is a little shorter than the correct percentage. With 2 & 3 it is a little more too short. When you get to 1 & 3 and 1,2, and 3 it is noticeably too short.

This is a simplistic explanation. There are other variables that have an effect. Like what partial are you in, what part of the chord are you playing, etc.

This is the song that got me started (no pun intended) on trumpet. Al Hirt playing I Can't Get Started.

@N1684T said in Olds Pinto?:

Agreed. Big clue is Olds Pinto used a plastic valve block;)

During the late 70's I made my living as a full time repair tech at the local music store. I saw quite a few Pintos and its cousin, the Reynolds Ranger. They did not have plastic valve blocks. They were brass valve blocks coated in a thick plastic. They could be taken apart without a torch, and the valves were interchangeable. And they sucked big time. But they were nearly indestructible.

@BigDub I got an iPad a couple of weeks ago. I'm still working on getting everything into ForScore, but it helps a bunch. Now I don't have to carry 3 large books with me. Just an iPad. Okay, truth is I'm old and don't trust technology. I still keep the books in the car just in case something goes wrong with the iPad. But it is a lot easier anyway.

Hey, Kehaulani. It is an Eterna Large Bore. Have you played one? They are one of the unicorn trumpets. I had one in my shop for repair a few years ago. It was dogged out but was an incredible player.

Do I need it? No. The only horn I really need is my 1949 Super Recording. Will it get playing time? Yes. And the upturned bell will help me deal with playing over the stand into a mic during performances.

I do have a couple of horns that are great horns but don't get playing time. I would like to sell them, but no takers so far.

@administrator 

Aw, man. I'm just getting over a respiratory infection. You made me laugh so hard I coughed my (unicorn) @ss off.

Serial number puts it in late 1967/early 1968. My main axe is a Super Recording. My jazz horn is an Eclipse MR that I won in Leigh's contest. The Recording that I am selling plays very much like the Eclipse. It is maybe a little darker sounding than the Eclipse. I'd like to keep both, but one has to go. No point in having two such similar horns, and the Recording doesn't get much playing time.

@Bob-Pixley said in The One:

@Tobylou8 said in The One:
...You can't have too many horns and it is nice to pull them out for others to play and watch them drool!

I like to watch people drool as much as anyone else, but I've come to the realization that I DO have too many horns. I only play a few of them regularly, and when I do play one of the others (that has no sentimental or rarity value), I always think "why am I keeping this one?". To that end, I sold 3 last year and haven't missed them in the least. I believe a few more may be ripe for the picking, too.

This is my feeling about my collection of horns as well. I have a few that get played regularly and a few that I have sentimental connections with. I have had a few of my horns up for sale: a Committee, a Super Recording (I don't need 2 of them) and a Recording. I have had them for sale at the price I paid to get them. Since I'm not financially strapped I just gonna play them occasionally until someone decides they want them more than I do.

@Dr-GO said in Brick & Mortar Music Stores:

@djeffers78 said in Brick & Mortar Music Stores:

Wow!
Cincinnati has still quite a few mom and pop music shops.

djeffers. Do you know if Buddy Rodger's Music is still around. I use to teach trumpet lessons at their North College Hill location when in college at the University of Cincinnati. I remembered they had an excellent selection of sheet music... and instructors as well!

My parents rented my first cornet from Buddy Rogers back in 1963. My dad taught at North College Hill High School from 58' until 67'

My daughter and her husband bought me the Blue Mitchell Complete Album Collection last Christmas. This was one of 8 albums in the collection. They are all fantastic. Incredible playing. It has been in my regular rotation since then.

My Grandfather is the short guy in the middle. He was the conductor.

Size does matter. I have reached an age when enlarging my music to BIG NOTE SONGBOOK size is an incredible benefit. I'm glad I took the plunge.

@rowuk Thanks for the input. I just got a new computer and it has no sound input built in. I am waiting on a Focusrite 2i2. When it gets here I'll do some recording. Listening to yourself is for sure a good way to judge progress and plot ways to improve. I am also anxious to listen to my improv. I've been working on it and I think maybe I don't totally suck anymore.

I play in a couple of big bands, a couple of small jazz quintets, and a couple of horn band rock groups. It sounds like a lot more than it really is. With all that combined I'm actually working one or two gigs a month when we aren't in the pandemic. The Balanced Embouchure workout has made C up to Eb feel like middle range. When I get the Focusrite in I'll record some of the horn band stuff and see what the high notes sound like. I am hopeful.

I would imagine that he is referring to Kurt Thompson.

@SSmith1226 said in Practicing with drones:

@tjcombo said in Practicing with drones:

Wonder if any TBers use drones as part of your practice routine? Apart from the great ear training benefits, I find it to be like meditation for trumpet. Relaxing and a lot of fun.

There are plenty of apps and resources available. I'm happy with the Drone Tone app - the web page has an online drone tool that works in a browser http://www.dronetonetool.com/

There is a good overview of drone usage and benefits here https://billplakemusic.org/2015/08/30/a-highly-effective-and-really-fun-way-to-improve-your-ears/

I used “Drone Tone Tool” for about six months when I was spending at least 30 minutes daily on the “Rusty Russell 19/30 Long Tone Routine”. I saw this in January 2018, revived on either TH or TM. I added the drone to this to improve my intonation. It seemed to help me and it was relaxing. When I have more time I will start this or a similar routine again with the drone.

Rusty's 19/30s is awesome. He really helped me build my endurance.

I have two Technics turntables. One in the music room and one in the house. Too many LPs to afford to replace with cds.