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

[Jim Battell]

Agreed!

And, personally, I advocate a little drift into pro-hood.  Perhaps to the
point of self-sustaining - able to support my trombone/equipment/sheet music
acquisition mania.  This is why I joined the staff at Osmun Music.

1.  They are Top Guns, IMHO.

2.  If I'm on this side of the counter it's a shorter throw to put my money
into Osmun's cash register.  A certain efficiency there, you see.

3.  I might have joined Shires, also Top Guns, and alas they are too far
away.  Let's talk again, Steve, when you move to Arlington.

Jim

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Demko" <demko61 at gmail.com>
To: <trombone-l at server5.samford.edu>
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2007 12:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Trombone-l] Thoughts for a restart in mid-life.


> 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
>
>