flugelgirl

When I was 3 or 4 yrs old, we got one of those flimsy plastic records in the mail from Time Life that had big band clips on it - trying to get you to buy the whole series of albums. I played it on my little record player, and heard Harry James play Sleepy Lagoon - the most incredible thing I'd ever heard! I wanted to play the trumpet imediately, but ended up starting piano at age 8 (hated it!) My mom let me pick up trumpet in 5th grade, got me private lessons the next year, and I've wanted to do nothing but play ever since!

JRFIII

In my small farming community in Ohio we had a really strong music program. We started in fourth grade. Mr. Friedmann (God rest his soul) was already a dottering old man leading the elementary progam at the time.

I had no interest in drums and a sister that played the flute. I was small for my age and wanted something that would allow me to stand out.

So I tried trombone.

Mind you I was very, very small at that time. Literally 48 pounds at 10 yearsof age. I could barely make a sound on it. Mr. Friedmann then gave me a cornet and I made a very loud non-flatulent sound.

So there I stayed. And have been very happy. Heck, I played well, and did well with the other young ladies in the band over the years as well as the drill team. (Just being honest here about the early motiviations. Trust me, I have matured...)

By the time I was in 7th grade I was moved to the high school band (grades 9-12) and was 2nd trumpet first chair that year after the first two weeks of challenges. Then in my Freshman year I bought I Getzen Severinson and was 1st trumpet 1st chair for the next 4 years.

That didn't make me real popular with the older guys/gals back then, but they never won a challenge against me. By the time I was a sophomore (10th grade) I knew I had a lock on it for the next three years unless I slacked off. No chance, I was in love with music by then.

However, this past week I finally bought I trombone. At almost 50 years and now a healthy(?) 170 lbs. I can handle it. If for no other reason that one day I want to play "Getting Sentimental Over Your" as I used to listen to it on my mom's old 78 rpm recordings.

Nice thread, thanks for letting me contribute.

tedh1951

We didn't have a school band in 1962 when I first heard Herb Alpert - but my Dad made a family decision (none of the rest of us were included) and came home one night having organised the 1st Trumpet player for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) as a tutor and carrying 200 pounds worth of Boosey and Hawkes Regent Mk II.

Now 200 pounds in Oz in 1962 (in hindsight) was a big chunk of cash to be taken from the grocery voucher pot, particularly with three other kids to feed. I lost interest after 12 months of mediocre progression and always regretted that loss.

I returned as a 49 yo (before my Dad died) after a 37 year break and on ANZAC Day 25 Apr, still play that horn. I've cleaned it, and and oiled it for 3 marching performances for tomorrow week, I'm so looking forward to supporting our veterans once again this year.

JRFIII

Ted,

My first horn was a Besson cornet. I can't recall the model. Brass and nickel, lacquered.

It had a hard case, made by Besson as I recall. Sort of a brownish-orange color. I later sold cornet and case to a younger friend when I needed money to buy my Getzen.

My dad told me he got it at a pawn shope, but it looked like it had never been used at that point. I was lucky he spent the money and am grateful he did.

Nice making your acquaintance.

Yours,

johnkool

We had a demonstration in the classroom. I got to go up in front of the class and "make a sound". I made lots of sound and acted like I was a star. (class clown, you know)

My family could not afford an instrument. The school provided drums, but ran out before me. So that was that. But a sister got married and the house she and her husband moved into had an old Holton Collegiate trumpet with bottom load springs. I took it out to the farmyard and blasted on it for hours and it was given to me.

It needed repairs and I was afraid my folks wouldn't pop for the $7.50 Bach mouthpiece my band director said I HAD to have.

I started halfway through the 2nd semester of 5th grade. Couldn't afford a book, so he wrote some fingerings in a clarinet book. In two weeks I was first chair. He also had practice stations set up throughout the school....lunch room, ball closet off the gym, janitor's office etc. If we finished our work in a regular classroom with more than 15 minutes of class time remaining and our behavior was good, we could sign out of class and go practice.

I got lots of positive feedback from the cooks and the janitor, and sometimes kids in phys ed would poke their head in the ball closet and give me a compliment, too. This was really encouraging.

My dad wore a hearing aid. I had to use a mute at home if he was in the house, or go out to the barn or outside. I used to even practice marching. I lived the instrument, but if it had been a clarinet or trombone or flute in that attic, that's what I would have played.

I marched with both the high school and junior band when I was in 7th grade and played in the high school pep band.

We moved in 8th grade to a bigger school, where I was first chair.
In high school I was 2nd chair as a sophomore. First chair was a senior. Thought I had it made. Didn't practice much.

But some DARNED sophomore girl beat me and kept me out of first chair symphonic band my last two years! I did play first in jazz band, because my range was better. But after being "beat out" of first chair by that girl I would shake so bad during auditions I looked like an epileptic having a seizure, which I did not overcome until my junior year of college. I had the shakes so bad I was encouraged to find a different major, but I refused.

Saayyy. Is your name Ann?

jazz9

I just couldn't afford a saxophone. Thank God for that cash shortage. :)

GordonH

I wanted to be the next Roy Castle but the school needed a french horn player so I played french horn for four years then switched to euphonium, which I playted until I was 19, then I switched to trumpet.

caman

This might sound different, but I had a car horn without the rubber ball on the end, then I bought a Conn 1050B. I noticed a slight, charming fibrato coming out of the rose bell. I investigated "player-horn combinations", and noticed that most of the players listed Bach Strad as one of their horns. Bought a used one for an alright price. Loved the way she moves. Don't like to talk any other manufactures down, but it might cost you a little to find yours. I learned not to spend too much on my mistakes.

rebx_92530

My dad had played trumpet in highschool and was damn good (well i thought so at the time, i was 12!) He had his old 35 year old student yamaha (some might remember the ugly puke green case)
I began trumpet cause it was easy, trumpet player dad and my own horn so i didnt have to use the schools. They tried getting me on other stuff but i said no way.
(P.S. have now schooled my dad ;))

rowuk

My grandfather died and I inherited his instrument. He was a fine cornet player in a factory band and pretty much gave up when getting dentures that didn't fit properly (normal situation 60 years ago). Every time that I visited, he would play something like excerpts from Arban's Carnival. I was always amazed.