Mutes, the bane of my life. Most of my playing is in theatre pit bands. I’ve probably spent more money on mutes for shows than I’ve been paid. Hat mute, Cleartone, metal and fibre straight mutes, metal and fibre cups, plunger, felt mute, even an extra Harmon because there wasn’t enough time to remove and replace stem between use. Sometimes I feel more like a juggler than a trumpet player. Why those that write scores don’t understand the player’s time requirements is a mystery. The puzzled face of an MD when you ask "Do you want this passage with a cup, or straight? Because you can’t have both. I physically cannot change mutes on a quaver rest".

Update. While I’m still convinced I won’t gain the G in time to be able to play it well enough, or reliably enough, to perform it in the show, I am making more progress than I expected. I can, at least, hit it occasionally. Something I couldn’t do at all when I made the original post. And when I do get it, it’s a real note that I can hold for 8 or more beats, not just a weak squeak. There’s hope for this old man yet.

@Dr-GO said in The One:

That horn really understands me.

I’m glad something can.

Yes, Happy Independence Day, or as we call it in the UK, Saturday.

@moshe
Doubt it. Perfect pitch is quite rare. Some university did a study recently and found it’s something like only 1 in 10,000.
They also compared musicians and non musicians and found no difference in ability to recognise pitch.

Trombone players are just like us trumpet players, only not as cool, obviously. Practice teaches us when a note is in tune.

@SSmith1226
I appreciate all of that, but my point still stands. Having been a Cop for 30 years I’ve seen a lot of good ideas go wrong, because they haven’t been thought through properly. I hope his scheme works out, but bad people do bad things to good people every day.

Hello. I’m Dave and I’m an alcoholic. Damn , wrong forum.

York Minster, in the UK was gutted by fire, as was Windsor Castle. We rebuilt both. The craftsman are still in existence to effect such skilled work.

I suppose I should do a serious one.

I’m Dave. Married for 46 years, two sons. The youngest is now an American! Although in his defence, he said he had his fingers crossed while taking the oath, so it doesn’t really count. And anyway he took an oath to Her Majesty the Queen as an Army Officer and a Queen outranks a President. He moved to Texas at Christmas, have yet to visit there. Covid has stopped our yearly visit. The other son is a Firefighter. I was a cop in London for 30 years, in various roles. Beat cop. Mounted Branch for 4 years. Back to beat and then into Firearms. Was what you call SWAT, as an operator and Instructor for 18years. A policy decision meant you could only specialise for 5 years, so had to move on. I moved to Royalty Protection, where I was a Bodyguard to the Royal Family. Stayed there until my 30 years was served, so retired.

Never had any musical interest, other than being a rock drummer in my teens. In my 30’s I bought a trumpet and Tune a Day book 1. I then taught myself to play and read music. Badly! I gave up several times over the years and eventually went along to a brass band. Turned out my self teaching wasn’t very good. The book said press 1 & 2 and that was an A. Turns out my A was an E, oops. Anyway gradually improved on cornet, eventually moved to tenor horn. After several years I gave up altogether. After retiring and moving to the country my wife insisted I found a hobby of some sort. I joined a local brass band, on tenor horn. Got promoted quite quickly to solo horn. After a few years I decided I didn’t really like brass band music, so left and bought a trumpet. Still have no idea what the scales are called, just look at the key and play accordingly. Played in a concert band and an orchestra, now I get to play in a local theatre in the pit band for musicals and Pantomimes. Still haven’t had a single music lesson. Can’t play without sheet music. Might retire again soon, losing interest with nothing to practice for.

@Robrtx

I’ve had tinnitus for 30 years now. Mine was caused by gunfire. It’s constant. I mask it by always having music playing, or tv on. As soon as I wake, radio goes on and stays on all day, my wife hates it but understands why. If she really wants peace and quiet, I use headphones. Fortunately it doesn’t affect sleeping or daily life.

I don’t feel the need to add pedals etc. You would have to turn the pages on sheet music, so a tap on the screen is much the same, but much faster. Adding more technology means more chance of failure.

Yep. IPad Pro 12.9 and ForScore greatest modern invention for musicians.

Another vote for ABBA, but I still listen to the Monkees occasionally.

Next time I visit my son in Athens, I’ll come and check out Egan to see if you are doing a good job.

@GeorgeB

Research in the UK shows that trumpets/cornets do not require covers, as less aerosols are released than by breathing when wearing a mask. Flutes are the worst as air is blown straight across the mouthpiece with some force.

@Newell-Post
I’ve been visiting my son and family every year for the last 14 years, when they lived in Arizona. I’m sure we can handle Texas.

I suppose I should do a serious one.

I’m Dave. Married for 46 years, two sons. The youngest is now an American! Although in his defence, he said he had his fingers crossed while taking the oath, so it doesn’t really count. And anyway he took an oath to Her Majesty the Queen as an Army Officer and a Queen outranks a President. He moved to Texas at Christmas, have yet to visit there. Covid has stopped our yearly visit. The other son is a Firefighter. I was a cop in London for 30 years, in various roles. Beat cop. Mounted Branch for 4 years. Back to beat and then into Firearms. Was what you call SWAT, as an operator and Instructor for 18years. A policy decision meant you could only specialise for 5 years, so had to move on. I moved to Royalty Protection, where I was a Bodyguard to the Royal Family. Stayed there until my 30 years was served, so retired.

Never had any musical interest, other than being a rock drummer in my teens. In my 30’s I bought a trumpet and Tune a Day book 1. I then taught myself to play and read music. Badly! I gave up several times over the years and eventually went along to a brass band. Turned out my self teaching wasn’t very good. The book said press 1 & 2 and that was an A. Turns out my A was an E, oops. Anyway gradually improved on cornet, eventually moved to tenor horn. After several years I gave up altogether. After retiring and moving to the country my wife insisted I found a hobby of some sort. I joined a local brass band, on tenor horn. Got promoted quite quickly to solo horn. After a few years I decided I didn’t really like brass band music, so left and bought a trumpet. Still have no idea what the scales are called, just look at the key and play accordingly. Played in a concert band and an orchestra, now I get to play in a local theatre in the pit band for musicals and Pantomimes. Still haven’t had a single music lesson. Can’t play without sheet music. Might retire again soon, losing interest with nothing to practice for.

@Tobylou8 said in Is Air Needed To Play The Trumpet:

I've never understood folks that think you can play without air. If one could, there would be no need for breathing exercises. Now I just need to buy an artificial electric drill tongue! Might be inefficient with all the new equipment I have to learn to use.

Well I can play the trumpet and I’ve never needed to do a breathing exercise. ‍️

‘’You are an Englishman, and have subsequently drawn the greatest prize in the lottery of life.’’

Cecil Rhodes