Posts made by tmd

@Dr-GO said in Welcome Thread:

Weekend's coming up so I think I only go 28 in today!

Wuss!

@Dr-GO said in First gig today:

Did you lead off with "Fever"?

It's in our book, but we didn't play it. But on request, we played the Baby Elephant Walk, which my bass player said is proof that we'll do anything for tips.

Mike

We played our first gig today. It was at a farmers market, with these venues operating as essential services, albeit with some restrictions. We performed as a piano/bass duo. The market was pretty well attended, considering it was the day after the 4th of July. Masks and social distancing were in place. Everybody was friendly, happy to be out, and happy to be hearing some live music. We jokingly called our band The Social Dissonance.

Mike

@GeorgeB said in Well, old age has finally caught up with me:

Our doctor members will know the drug: METOPROLO. It slows down the heart rate. Well it also slowed me down, period.

There's one more "L" in the name ... metoprolol. Yes, fatigue is one possible side-effect. It may be temporary. Hopefully it is.

Mike

The reverb settings can be confusing. My reverb options are different that what you are showing. (Maybe I have a different version of Audacity.) I usually change the defaults to recommended settings, similar to this site.

https://www.howtogeek.com/62328/the-htg-guide-to-audacity-delay-echo-and-reverb/

I duplicate the original trumpet track. I add the reverb to the duplicated track only. Then I adjust the level on the duplicated track (usually to around -12, plus or minus), to get the right amount of reverb in the mix.

Mike

@Dale-Proctor said in The New Reality:

I was recently asked to participate in a pops/patriotic brass band concert as part of a Monday night concert series in a local park on July 6. No rehearsal, band members seated 6’+ apart. Should be interesting if it actually happens.

Similar situation here. I have 2 gigs so far scheduled for July 5th and 12th. Both are outdoors. It's easy for us to "socially distance", since my band is pretty small. First gig will be a piano/bass duo, with me on piano. The other will be trumpet/guitar/bass trio, with me on trumpet. I also run an open jazz jam, which may resume at the end of July, but more likely will resume in August.

Mike

@neal085 said in Longest Layoff:

What was your longest layoff, what caused it, and what was it like coming back?

I had one layoff. I played regularly through college and a few years beyond. By the time I hit 30, life was getting in the way, and I put the horn away. I thought this would be for good. About 20 years later, I felt I had more time, and I realized I had a strong desire to pick up the horn again.

Coming back was challenging. I didn't have the same youthful energy or free time. And I didn't have the same playing goals. First, I was determined not to abuse my chops, like I did back in college. Second, I wanted to play on my terms. But like many things is life, playing the trumpet is much sweeter the second time around.

I'll add that early on, my biggest challenge was trying not to do much at once. It's easy to forget your chops are just starting out again. I also had private lessons will a local trumpet teacher, to help keep me on track.

Mike

I agree. I would be nice to see videos of our performances or things we've been working on.

@administrator , how about a "Show us your YouTube" subforum?

Mike

I played with it back in March. I have a USB mic, so I didn't need their hardware. It works best with a hard-wired network connection, and doesn't work as well over WiFi or G4. But even with an good connection, it was marginal at best.

There was a slight delay, which took some getting used to, but sort of worked. However, when I played with a drummer, the native sound from the drums seemed horribly out-of-sync with what was transmitted.

Mike

@ROWUK said in PLEASE KEEP CIVIL!:

The discussion here in this thread is exemplary of something far different. No one asked why escalation occured - “Keep it Civil” is just a bandaid - a lame attempt to keep an infection from spreading. I would insist that a band aid on top of a festering wound is not the best solution - although for a while, out of sight is out of mind. We may need some time until a diagnosis is possible, but I do not see the questions even being asked.

I don't think we need a diagnosis. The lack of civility was due to one person, and assisted at times by one other person. I don't think the reason for their bad behavior had anything to do with the other members here. They are both gone/banned.

This thread also evolved into "where do we go from here". That's a good thing. But I think it's independent of the bad behavior of a former member.

Mike

Thanks for the information, and for all of your help. This action was a long time in coming.

Mike

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

Mike

@Dale-Proctor said in Seeking input on Rules:

Keep it simple - no profanity, no name calling, nothing unrelated to trumpets/cornets/flugelhorns/etc. and musical topics in general. That gives topics a pretty wide latitude without excessive rules. Be civil to your fellow members if there’s a disagreement on some point, and keep things PG in case younger people are looking in.

I like this reply. Building on it, first and foremost, I'm looking for "community", for an opportunity to talk to like-minded people. And although I may have questions from time-to-time, I'm not here looking for answers.

So I agree with @Dale-Proctor. Keep it focused on the trumpet and related topics, with wide latitude. But above all else, keep it friendly.

Mike

@Dr-GO said in WHY IS THIS BALLAD ....:

Mike, I would disagree. Nothing says love like "The Look of Love"

No fair using Diane Krall. But to clarify, I said "You Don't Know" is one of the better angry love songs.

Here's an excerpt of my band playing the song, with me on Chromatic Harmonica.

It's maybe not the best love song ever written. But it's one of the better "angry love songs".

It's one of my favorites, and a popular song in my jazz trio's regular lineup. Initially, we performed it as a ballad. It became a crowd-favorite after we switched over to a double-time feel, to give the song a bit more energy.

Mike

@ROWUK said in Staying in top playing shape post band shutdown:

Staying in shape is a process. Currently we are replacing certain opportunities with others and this can affect our playing in a serious way.
When we play in large rooms (bandroom or concert venues), what reaches our ears is considerably different than playing with a mute or in a small practiceroom/bedroom.

Great observation. Worth repeating.

Mike

@Dr-GO said in Staying in top playing shape post band shutdown:

@tmd said in Staying in top playing shape post band shutdown:

I've starting playing outdoors with my trio this month. We had our second gig today, which we livestreamed, and used to raise money for local causes. My first real post-COVID gig (unless things change) is early July. It will be an outdoor gig.

Mike

Mike, I was there for the first one AND JUST LOVED IT. Don't get me wrong as your piano playing is superb, but I would have loved to have heard you on more trumpet. Perhaps if you need help, you can fly me out your way and I will cover the trumpet while you play the keyboard, right?

Thanks Gary. I've been playing more keyboard. This was driven in part by my using a vocalist on more gigs. Half my gigs last year were keyboard gigs. But I enjoy playing both trumpet and piano.

For the outdoor first gig, I opted to go with no (aersolizing) wind instruments. So I did that gig on the piano, with a guitar and bass rounding out the trio. For the second gig this past weekend, it was me on piano, with sax and bass. But anytime you want to sit in on trumpet, you're more than welcome to do so.

Mike

@GeorgeB said in Staying in top playing shape post band shutdown:

How 'bout you folks after zero band participation ? Any troubles ?

I play in a jazz trio, which doesn't rehearse. So the lack of rehearsal time doesn't impact me.

Glad to hear @Dr-GO (Gary) is getting gigs. What type of gig was it? And did you have to make any "social distancing" adjustments?

I've starting playing outdoors with my trio this month. We had our second gig today, which we livestreamed, and used to raise money for local causes. My first real post-COVID gig (unless things change) is early July. It will be an outdoor gig.

Mike

I had an ER shift today. Stopped by a cemetery on the way home to play taps. Used my Getzen Field Trumpet.

Mike