[Trombone-l] Thoughts for a restart in mid-life.

[Dave Demko]

Greg,
	I have hardly played for 24 years, a brief wedding-band stint
excepted. But playing for a service last Christmas with my kids (high
school brass players) revived my interest strongly. I found a good
used .547 horn and have worked on the basics: Remington, Tyrell,
Rouchut. Also, I've learned or re-leaned some pieces I like.
	My tone went from out-of-shape to OK pretty quickly. I'm still
chasing that gorgeous trombone sound in my brain. I'm impatient,
thinking about taking up alto and returning to euphonium. But common
sense and lack of hours in the day help me concentrate on the horn in
hand.
	If amateur means a) playing for love, not money, and b) not good
enough to make steady money with the trombone anyway, then I'm doubly
an amateur. My plans are to join a brass ensemble or community band
and take occasional lessons for course corrections.
	Six months into it, I'm pretty happy with my re-start. It doesn't
seem nuts to me. Enthusiasm and enjoyment are my fuel, and that fuel
is renewable.

Dave


On 7/18/07, Greg Jones <conductorjonz at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> I haven't played trombone in 15 years or so and never really learned
> properly to begin with.  I taught myself every bad habit in the world.al by
> myself!
>
>
>
> Having laid off the horn for 15 years, I began staring longingly at my old
> King 2B (Which never left its stand in my office.) and thinking about
> playing again.but the proper way this time.  I have been reading the e-mails
> on the list with great interest, and have a great respect for those on this
> list, many of whom I have admired over the years.  So now that I've gotten
> nerve to ask.am I nuts to do this and spend this kind of money at 39 years
> old.  Is it mid-life crisis early?
>
>
>
> I had my old 1938 King 2B overhauled and love it more than ever.  A
> wonderful instrument!!  I bought a new King 3B since that is what I played
> before for jazz, and recently acquired a 1940's Olds Recording with a slide
> and valve section.  I just started lessons with an instructor, but still
> have doubts that I have lost my mind.  I thought learning to read this time
> might be helpful.
>
>
>
> My wife is supportive.so far.  She hasn't said a thing about vacationing
> with our new "child in the black leatherette case."  She continues to
> encourage me.  However I still think it may be a bit late in life for such
> things.  I've also had some profession musician friend who have given advice
> and been kind enough to answer questions as needed.
>
>
>
> While I'll never be the next Alex Iles, or Dick Nash, I would be happy to
> help by playing music for the Salvation Army band or some local bands.  I
> don't have any delusions of being a "professional", but rather just want to
> challenge myself and keep my "gray matter" working before I get too feeble.
> (HA!)
>
>
>
> Your thoughts would be appreciated.  I'd also be curious to have any
> feedback on playing valve trombone since I've rather enjoyed practicing both
> slide and valve horns.
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
> Greg Jones
>
> Toledo, Ohio
>
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-- 
"The awesome destructive power of the double trigger bass trombone
could never have been imagined by the founding fathers when they
granted us the right to keep and bear arms." -- Albert Manglesdorf