Annie

BLAZE


I would like an Eclipse to be the basis of the BLAZE model. I only want to make some cosmetic changes to keep the playability of the horn intact. Nothing out of sight, but nothing plain either.

As the name BLAZE implies fire, I would like it to seem like the entire trumpet is in the deep blue and white heart of an immense roaring fire. The entire trumpet would be bathed in a metallic blue that is reminiscent of a hot fire. there would be white gold flames in various spots throughout.

The sheet bracing at the bell crook would be cut to look like a miniature bonfire, tipped in the same blue of the trumpet and made of white gold leaf, or silver. From this "fire", a spiral of flames would erupt and circle the pipe until exploding into a rage at and within the bell.

The sheet bracing for the leadpipe crook would also be a flame, but this would be a lick of flame shaped in the form of a capitol letter A. The lead pipe as well would have an elongated spiral of white gold or silver flames around it leading to the valves.

Each valve casing would have a tongue of flame on the outside on the front and the back, and the flames towards the right hand would be in the shapes of crosses. Then, the slides for the valves each have a flame or two that seem to burn through the slides starting on the bottom part of the slide and completing on the top.

The two slide rings and the pinky ring would be covered in white gold and seem to be made of small flames themselves. The pinky ring would seem to be a flame blowing to the right, and the first valve slide would be a flame blowing to the left. The third valve slide would be a flame that seems to go up and slightly to the left.

The only non-cosmetic changes I would make would be to shorten the distance of the two stems of the first valve slide ring as my hands are small, and add the option of having both a set of heavy and regular valve caps. I use a wine cork on my current trumpet so I can actually budge it. The one last change I would make to the trumpet would be instead of mother of pearl on the valves, I would have sapphire or Lapis Lazuli.(Only if this is possible and within the budget after all of the other specifications have been met - I checked some prices of sapphire and it is...pricey. Lapis Lazuli looks cheaper...)
As I've mentioned before, the title of the trumpet would be BLAZE. This would not only describe the looks of the trumpet, but the sound of trumpets in general and how they cut through an orchestra or band and provide much of the fire and might behind the music in fanfares, licks and more.

A. A TYPE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT - trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, flutes
B. A COUNTRY OR CITY - Cumberland, Maryland
C. A FORM OF TRANSPORT - car
D. AN ITEM OF CLOTHING - band uniform
E. A FOOD - A sheetz cheeseburger

The calm, cool night at Fort Hill High School in Cumberland, Maryland, provided a wonderful background for the crisp sound of the bands participating in the Chapter 13 Tournament of Bands. The last high school band students to go on, Fort Hill's own, were playing their hearts out on the field as Frostburg State's students hid behind the audience, soon to make their appearance to those who were not in close proximity.

Light chatting burbled throughout the college trumpets and saxophones, flutes and clarinets, as they awaited to hear whether or not they would do two shows in a row and when they were to start charging down the fifty some steps and onto the field.

I shivered with excitement as I awaited the cue to start running down the steps. My white cape fluttered slightly in the light breeze, and I chatted slightly with my friends while paying attention to the band on the field as well. As the band finished, I double checked my uniform the make sure that all was in order. I made sure the ruffled dickey was tucked neatly into the cumberbund, and that my cape was attached on both shoulders. Calming my stomach's butterflies from barely even making it, I took several deep breaths. I barely found the high school while driving over in my car because the entrance is slightly hidden. But I was there, and ready to perform.

The signal is given, the band takes off! Wooping, hollering, screaming, and shouting, the band takes off down the steps, surprising the audience with an energetic entrance unmatched by any of the high school bands that have gone before us on this night. Tearing across the field, each member finds their spot and rigidly stops and goes to attention, awaiting the start of the first number.

The band faces the students, and hears the fact that they'll be playing two shows. There are a few mumbles, and a few eyes rolling as they grumble about the fact that maybe some chops wouldn't last two shows. But the director says we're doing to shows, and we can't change the decision.

The drum major salutes, raises her arms, and blows the whistle. The band is off, and running through the first few sets as the drums pound through the introduction. Screams and shouts ring out as it looks like the band members have lost their minds! The band then snaps to marching and plays through the first song effortlessly. The lead trumpet player screams through his solo above high C. Then the second song begins, and the third song, until the fourth song is finished. After the first show ends, the band calmly walks to their spots and faces the opposite direction and prepares for the second show.

The second show runs through without a hitch, and the energy level even rises! The band finishes, and circles up on the sideline as the awards begin. For a job well done, I treat myself to one of the huge delicious burgers from the nearby Sheetz gas station. What a night - two shows in a row!

Music is my life. I grew up going to listen to the Navy Band play as my father sang in the Sea Chanters. Even before I took my first breath of air, I heard my father singing with a wonderful timbre that has the power of a trumpet's tone. Music surrounds me and I surround myself in music.

There were many other options for me to go into, but I found in myself too strong a love for music to do anything else. There was no question when I finally decided what my path in life was to be.

As I start on the path of a professional musician or music teacher, it would be great to start off with a beautifully hand-made trumpet. My bach stradivarious is good, don't get me wrong, but as a professional musician it would be rare for me to make enough money in the United States to buy such a rare piece as lovely as an Eclipse trumpet.

~Annie Lewis

I can't forget the most important part - Thank you for doing the contest in the first place - to even have a chance to win a custom trumpet is AWESOME!

slimshady

Please view drawing: http://webpages.charter.net/gntzent/...lverBullet.jpg

Special Thanks to Gzent for hosting my picture!!

Tell us how you would improve a trumpet with a new feature or design.

I want to create a trumpet that is easy to hold and to play, a design that promotes proper grip, finger technique, and posture, a trumpet that will resonate and project with enough sound and power to split the head of a werewolf.

Grip Design:

1. The left hand grip will be moved to below the valve casing. (see drawing) This will help the player achieve the proper horn angle and help fight excessive mouthpiece pressure. The horn will rest more on the lower lip which increases the embouchure vibration. (try it with your finger while lip buzzing) I also believe the horn vibrates a bit differently when the hand is removed from the valve casing.

2. The right hand rests in normal position however an ergonomic hand piece fits comfortably into the palm of the hand. The thumb rests underneath into a comfortably rounded slot. The pinky rests freely on top. This piece will mostly serve the thumb in supporting the horn. It will be short enough that it will not interfere with finger movement.

3. The finger buttons are designed to keep the fingers in proper position. Each finger slides into position and is slightly covered over the finger nail by a rounded top. (see picture) The valve caps could be slightly recessed to add extra comfort. This part could be removed and would mostly be there for practice. No more flying fingers.

4. The 1st and 3rd slides need to move effortlessly and not cause the horn to shift around while playing. Two rings will extend down to the 1st or 3rd finger and thumb and act like triggers to tune the horn. Typically, triggers are stiff and hard to move. This design will require triggers that move very freely; I believe the length of the trigger will be key providing an extra bit of leverage. If the trigger design fails a ring and saddle could be moved to the bottom of the slides.

Each of the ergonomic pieces will be made of special tone woods much like that of the Shulmann System. These pieces could possibly be removable. Painted Black or Natural Wood.


Trumpet Build:

I’m thinking I would prefer the build of the trumpet to be that of the Large Red, or perhaps the Medium Red, although I have yet to play an Eclipse trumpet. I have faith in the Eclipse design and feel that this area will be best left to the expertise of the Eclipse horn makers and we could work together to find the horn that will best suit my playing.

Bracing would be the standard Eclipse. It would however be interesting to experiment with the use of tone woods for bracing.



Give us a theme for a trumpet!

Introducing the ‘Silver Bullet’

The new grip of the trumpet resembles that of a pistol. The 1st finger of the left hand is used to pull the trigger and shoot the third valve slide forward. The horns bracing will have a sharp forward moving look. It would be interesting to plate the horn using white gold. Otherwise, the plating will be either shiny silver, brushed silver, or dark gun metal lacquer. The sound will be powerful enough to frighten Werewolfs on those late night jazz gigs set under a full moon.

Write a short story

A small town just south of Houston is terrorized by a series of killings. Young trumpeter Charlie Coyner is determined to find the werewolf responsible for the killings. The image of Coyner’s entire jazz quintet being eaten alive invades his sleep and haunts his every waking hour. Charlie is sickened and is growing weak as he can no longer stand the sight of red meat. Turnip Greens and Cashew Butter alone will not provide Charlie with the strength needed to continue playing the trumpet never mind kill off the werewolfs.

Upon hearing of this tragic incident Charlie receives a call from his Uncle Leigh. Leigh comforts Charlie and tells him that he has built for him a special instrument, an instrument specifically designed to kill werewolfs. Leigh rushes over and hands to Charlie a shining silver trumpet. ‘For you Charlie, I have made the Silver Bullet’ proclaims Leigh! Charlie is overwhelmed at the site of this amazing instrument. His energy is renewed and he realizes he has no time to waste. For he must put this new axe to use and bring forth justice to those that are deserving.

Later that cold windy night Charlie throws on his black trench coat and heads out to seek his revenge. He knows the werewolfs will be about and be hungry as the lunar eclipse is approaching. “Take me to 6th and Main,” Charlie orders the taxi driver. “The Eternal Thirst Night Club…you sure about that boy?” states the driver. “Did I stutter?”… “Aight, Aight.” As they near the club Charlie’s eyes are wide checking the scene. He jumps out from the car and begins to make his way down the street. His ears are perked for a clue of a cue. Around the corner he hears approaching taps over the sound of trickling water. His eyes twitch for fear that it is a werewolf lurking nearby in the dark ally. Making his way around the corner he panics knowing he hasn’t even a chance without warming up. He's shaken as a werewolf begins to approach him and he has no choice, he pulls the silver bullet from its case, aims it at the werewolf, and blows a lightning fast stream of air thru the instrument. He wounds the werewolf in the eye with a double-C yet the beast still plunges forward after him. Again, Charlie shoots knocking the werewolf to the ground fatally wounding him with a double-D this time. ‘Yes!’ he celebrates, amazed at his own performance with this instrument. He approaches the werewolf slowly still armed with the silver bullet. The werewolf is now beginning his transformation back to human. His cries echoing through the street will surely attract the others. ‘Bring it!’ yells Charlie lifting his head in glory. Slowly then he turns and walks away from the now dead beast. ‘This Gig ain’t over till the Silver Bullet Swings!’


Apart from your brilliant answers to the above, please tell us just why you feel that you should win this contest.

I’m sure there are many wonderful deserving trumpet players out there. Here is why I feel that I should win this contest:

You asked for a new feature or design. I believe my design to be original and exciting with a practical purpose. Comfort and Playability!
You asked for a theme and a story. I’ve tried to be creative and link together my theme and story. Many thanks to Stephen King for the inspiration.

Now aside from following the rules of the contest, I have played the trumpet for 15 years. I have a bachelor of music degree and I am dedicated to continue learning the trumpet, playing the trumpet, and teaching to others everything that I have learned. Designing a trumpet and having it built by Eclipse…icing on the cake.

Best of Luck to All !!!!
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trumpetfro

1. Tell us how you would improve a trumpet with a new feature or design.

I believe that the engineering of trumpets has come so far (especially Eclipse ) that there is little to improve upon. With that said, let me begin.
The bore of the horn would be .460. There would be a stopper on the third valve slide, a spit valve, and a finger ring. On the first valve slide there would be a finger hook, and another finger hook on the leadpipe. There would, of course, be a spit valve on the main tuning slide. The valve caps would be heavy caps. Read on for more info. My initials would be engraved on the second valve casing, followed by 1/1. That way everyone would know that this isn't some generic horn. The braces on the horn would just be the standard two bars. I'm not going for the in your face style. It would be too much of an effort by the manufacturors :wink: . I would also like to be able to play the horn in any situation; i.e. if I was playing in an orchestra, I wouldn't want a flamboyant horn that had four pound braces on it.

2. Give us a theme for a trumpet!

The theme would be "il fuoco tranquillo"- which is italian for "quiet fire". The whole trumpet would be brushed silver (if this doesn't make sense, look at Zues' antique silver) except for the inside of the bell. That would be copper colored if it wasn't actually copper. On the outside of the bell stemming from the rim would be flames that are unbrushed silver. The flames would only be a thin outline, hense the name il fuoco tranquillo. The flames are not meant to be in your face or painful to look at. The valve stems and caps would also be copper or copper colored like the inside of the bell. Il fuoco tranquillo would be stamped on the bell where all other trumpets have their name's stamped.

3. Write a short story using each of the following at least once.

A. A TYPE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
B. A COUNTRY OR CITY
C. A FORM OF TRANSPORT
D. AN ITEM OF CLOTHING
E. A FOOD

In a small rural town called Port Angeles, there was a high school wind ensemble that was quite good. The band's trumpet section was especially good. Personalities ranged a lot between the players of the section. The first chair player was a modest person. His clothes were usually t-shirts and jeans. The second chair player was a very brash character who was loud at everything he did. His clothes often featured cheetah printed shirts, bright pants, and outragous hats. The first chair player had a fairly nice trumpet that he kept polished and clean, but he believed that the beauty of the horn came from the sound rather than the look. The second chair player's trumpet was Zebra striped by L.A. Sax. He didn't care what kind of tone he produced because he had an "awesome" looking horn.
Both of these trumpet players liked the same girl who played saxaphone. One day they both decided to ask her out. The second chair trumpet player put half a dozen Altoids in his mouth, sprayed an excessive amount of cologne on, and walked up the girl. You could smell him from the other side of the room. He said, "Hey cupcake, how 'bout you and me fornicate?" The girl laughed in his face and told him to get lost. The modest first chair player approached the girl and said, "Hey, would you like to go to Subway with me and get a sandwich, and then go to a movie?" The girl immediatly said that she would love to. She followed the first chair player out to his car and they drove away.
The moral of the story is that one must have taste to go farther in life. Il fuoco tranquillo is very tasteful :wink: .

4. Tell us just why you feel that you should win this contest.

I am just a junior in high school and my love for music is still growing. I have the potential and desire to go far in the music industry. If I were to win this contest, the trumpet would be put to use rather than sit in a display case and collect dust. I would like to thank everyone who is involved in this contest for putting such a great idea into action. Thank you!

NMex

I am a student of design. I intend one day, to be an architect. By my training, I have learned to believe that good design is about how something works, not how it looks. This is one of the reasons that trumpets are so beautiful. If something is well designed, it will almost always be beautiful to behold. It all boils down to function. If it isn’t necessary, it shouldn’t be there. Fancy finishes, trigger mechanisms, water keys, tuning slides, complex metal compounds, should all add to the delivery of fine music if they are to be included in the final instrument. A live musical performance is an interaction between player(s) and an audience. The history of the trumpet is long and regarded with much heraldry. A trumpet should be recognizable as such or it becomes some new instrument.

1. Design improvements
a. I have always had trouble operating the slides on my trumpets. I think that the problem is that when I throw the third slide out, it can feel as though I have nothing to push against. This problem could be addressed in a couple of ways. One would be to use a trigger mechanism similar to that used on the Olds Mendez that allows the player to pull towards the valve block in order to operate the appropriate slide. The other would be to place something on the bell side of the valve block to allow one to support the trumpet and hold the other fingers so that the motion of throwing the slide out gives the index and middle finger something to push against. I think this one aspect would reduce secondary movement significantly.
b. The bell side of the valve block could be contoured to allow for comfortable positioning of my fingers.
c. All rings should be adjustable for position. They could be made to move on rails along the tops, or bottoms of their respective slides with either a screw stop or a click locking mechanism. Maybe they could even be integrated with a rod stop mechanism. All "throw" mechanisms" should be fully round.
d. Waterkeys should be traditional in appearance. Amados look clean but what is a water key? It is a hole in the tubing that we pull a stop away from to allow us to drain water. We shouldn’t complicate this simple feature by forcing multiple holes into alignment with some mechanical device. The waterkeys should however be easy to reach and to operate. Springs ends should be hidden to prevent injury to person or clothing.

2. The theme for this horn will be a tribute to the craftsmen. The bell should be shaped and left raw, with only a lacquer coating, revealing to the audience that it has been forced into this unnatural shape by the fiery will of the craftsman. The more heat discoloration, the better. The valve block should be brushed nickel over brushed brass. The tubing should be brushed brass. All connections should be brushed nickel in order to accentuate them. When fully depressed, the valve tops should move into a recessed valve top that is contoured on the finger edge. This would force the player into a correct finger position. I think trumpets with small bores are easier to fill and play. I also think you might make up for the sound characteristics of a small bore horn by using a larger bell. Details/Connections can be hightlighted by using contrasting materials or finishes.

3. I am a comeback trumpet player. I played through high school and then went to college locally. My dream ever since the eighth grade has been to be an architect and that is what I studied in college. I picked up the horn again one year after finishing high school and began performing with a small local band. We played a variety of music and it was here that I found I really enjoyed performing. I played with this group all the way through college (5 years in an undergraduate program), earning just enough money to get by but having the perfect release for the pressures of a grueling degree program. This group became one of the top musical acts in the state of New Mexico (we keep our egoes in check when we recall that the population of our entire state is less than that of most major cities). Still, we are able to travel to neighboring states and are eventually invited to fly and meet with executives of Sony’s Spanish label in San Antonio, Texas.

That dream never panned out. Now, seven and one half years later, my nephew showed an interest in playing trumpet. I have not touched the one my father bought for me in eighth grade for a long time. I pull it from the back of the closet, clean it and sell it to my nephew for one dollar. I can’t just give it to him. I tell him that he can use the horn with two conditions. Condition number one is that he cannot sell the horn. If he decides he doesn’t want to play anymore, he has to sell the horn back to me for one dollar. If however, he decides he want to play the trumpet, I agree to buy him a professional quality horn when he enters high school.

Almost as soon as my old horn leaves my house, I have this urge to play again. After much research, I finally decide on a professional quality horn for myself and make the purchase. I am now taking lessons and am literally having the time of my trumpet playing life. I wish that I had been able to receive private instruction when I was younger or that I would have at least paid more attention to the instruction I did receive. I also wish that I had allowed for the possibility that I might have been able to make a living as a performer.

I have no regrets for the way my life has evolved. I am now able to revisit my options and my approach to that aspect of my life that really has been the most rewarding. I am close to achieving my lifelong goal of becoming a registered architect but understand that my music is just as much a part of who I am. I remember that my dress cowboy hat is on the shelf above my closet. It’s time to call out that side of my being and realize it’s full potential.

A riverboat glides slowly by the club on the San Antonio riverfront. It’s full of lackadaisical tourists, cameras around their necks, dressed in their recognizable tourist shorts and flowered button down shirts. As they pass the Hard Rock Café, they can’t help but pause and listen. The sound of a trumpet rings out. “Who is that band?” they ask as they pass the club. They watch the action as the sidewalk patrons, eating nachos and eagerly drinking margaritas to quench their thirst from dancing in the heat of a San Antonio until one of them recalls, “I heard about a new horn player from Albuquerque that is gigging here now with his band. I don’t recall his name but just listen to that horn. That sound will take him far. And I can tell that he’s got a lot to say.”


4. It’s hard for me to say that I deserve this horn. That being said, I would absolutely love to win this prize. I believe that this will be the only way many of us will ever own a horn of this quality. I am very impressed with the craftsmanship and innovation that I have seen come out of the Eclipse factory. Even more so, I have been awestruck by their generosity in awarding horns and distributing information. I have been happy to participate, and would be very pleased to be a winner in this contest.

Respectfully submitted,
NMex

sean007r

1.) Tell us how you would improve a trumpet with a new feature or design


While I am not a trumpet engineer, I can only suggest a few features that I would like to see as a "player"...

I.) Ergonomics at the valve body. Think about it!!!
While the trumpet has changed a lot since the first score was written for trumpet, 1607 Orfeo, if I remember correctly, little has changed in the comfort level. With all the work related research that is done today to ensure our bodies stay as healthy as possible like ergo mice and keyboards, even ergo screwdrivers, who is thinking about the trumpet player? The simplest way, in my nonprofessional opinion, would be to spread the valves apart ever so slightly and enlarge the casing.

There could be additional improvements, but honestly they would have to be custom for each user to have much benefit and due to the expese of a custom fit for each user would be too expensive for retail sale.



In addition to ergonomic, I'd like to see...


II.) Spit valve on first slide...
While not needed often, it would be "nice" and easy just to open a spit valve than to remove a pipe. Which is impossible to do with a trigger design and I prefer the trigger first slide again because the traditional hooks and rings do not allow for bigger hands and thumbs!


III.) Adjustable leadpipe...
not for tuning, but for bell alignment
set the lead pipe farther off to the right and allow it to pivot slightly with an adjustable lock, like those found on a Pic.
Then the player can lower the leadpipe to keep the bell up.
(just the opposite of the "Dizzy" design.
problem with this is moisture. You would need an additional spit valve near the mouthpiece. However, a nice feature for those with a slight overbite or someone who just wants a little help projecting sound up and out. Really nice when tired!
Maybe apply the same adjustable design to the bell pipe section.
You would need a slight section, 1" or so, to be flexible, maybe after the final bend. the only example I can use is in Automotive exhaust systems. Almost all use at lease one section of a flex pipe today to allow the engine section of the exhaust to move with torque, as the body section stays stationary.


IV.) adjustable rings
third and pinky


V.) Metal
My older horns appear to make from a single metal.
My new horns look like they were made from a cheap brass and then silver-plated. I like a solid metal horn. I'm sure it is cheaper to use brass and then plate it, but what will happen in time... you guessed it, WEAR. Additionally what about resonance. Aren't you altering it as it transfers to the plating? Again, I'm not an engineer, but it appears a single metal construction would be best! Mine has to be silver, I like it the best!


VI.) adjustable mouthpiece receiver
maybe similar to that of a piccolo design mouthpipe.
this way if the end user is playing with different mouthpieces and all have a slightly different shank he/she will have a better fit.


VII.) braces
should all be miniature trumpets when possible.
This way we can show how just how proud we are to be trumpet players!


VIII.) Lots of engraving
I love most old horns just for this reason

VIV.) Bell
in addition to the nice engraving, it would also have to have a slightly larger taper into a traditional bell or maybe a hair bigger

X.) Trim
The edge of the bell trimmed in gold
The end of the slides and the curve of the main pipe trimmed in gold.
Valve caps and bottom caps in gold
This goes against point #V if the gold trim is plated, but I doubt that anyone can afford solid gold, but at least it would look cool!



2.) the name...
ergo Bb
or
up and out
or
fast and fancy

it depends on the final design



3.) A short story...
Not very long ago, in a town called Dearborn, there lived a trumpet player who always wore a black shirt and loved to eat chicken. He would drive his 1982 Bronco almost anywhere to find the best chicken. As a matter of fact, he has been known to drive 300+ miles just for a great chicken dinner! What is he, "chicken" to try something new?



4.) And last but not least!
As a single, full time father raising two children on my own and making less than poverty income I cannot afford a GREAT proffesional horn. I do not receive child support from my ex-wife and have no other support to raise my children.

I don't ask for much in life, just a place to call home, family to fill my home and good music.

I currently play, or should I say, try to play, on a the only horn I can afford, purchased from a pawn shop for $200.00 US dollars.
The horn was made in 1972, but looked like someone really cared about it or just never played it. While this horn is far from ideal for most "professional" players it IS better than nothing.


Someday I hope to be able to make great music on a great horn and everyday that I practice on my 32 year old horn, the better I get. I just hope and pray that I win so that I can own a "real" proffesional horn!!!

I just started playing the trumpet again, seriously a few years ago.
I hope to attend college again and obtain another the degree, this time in music. For now I just hope that my playing part-time inspires my children to find what makes them happy and that my public performances inspires others. what better way to inspire others and myself than a GREAT, PROFFESIONAL, CUSTOM trumpet!?!?!?!?!?!?!?



TTFN
Sean Reisdorf
Dearborn MI

Horn of Prays

1) All tubes especially the 1st, & 3rd valve slides plus the tuning crook

are to be crimped, crooked or rounded downward like the tubes of a

French horn thus the reason for putting the letter C for Crumpet. Bore

is to be medium.

Model Name: CRUMPET


2) Theme: MELLOW YELLOW. The sound will be mellow because of

the rounded tubes and the color will be of yellow brass, clear lacquer

with even a very slight hint of yellow and red in the color to make it

more of a sunshine color rather than the color of a lemon.

3. `Twas in the days of Aladdin when the genies ruled the world that

mass communication, transportation and production were first born.

Nay, no buses or private cars like today – WE made do with good,

old-fashioned carpets like our parents and grandparents did. Why, I

remember when we had the great famine, that my entire family

climbed aboard the trustworthy U.C.L.A., the United Carpet for

Long-distance Air-travelers. We were tempted to travel via the

Understanding Foreign Origin (UFO), but we were a little skeptical of

their reliability.

My grandfather remembered the good old days when the carpet

doubled as a shawl or afghan in addition to the flying seat, but I

guess they don’t do that any more.

When we arrived in merry old England, we were served a most

unusual food for our uncultured palates, which was called

“Crumpets”. The crumpets were mellow yellow, spongy muffins which

were a delight for our famished bodies.

In England, there were none of the single flying carpets like they used

to have. As a matter of fact, Grandpa said that when he saw a carpet

he thought it had been one of the flying type, but he couldn’t get it to

fly! He could wear it, sure enough, but flying was another story.

Grandpa told me how he tried cajoling the little old (it wasn’t REALLY

that old) carpet to fly, but to no avail. Saddened, he drowned his

sorrow in the crumpets and was saying to himself “Crumpet, Crumpet,

Crumpet” when he suddenly was struck by a thought! Maybe if I

played some Trumpet music, I could persuade the carpet to

subconsciously remember its anti-gravity ability.

He started playing a little ditty on his trumpet from the old country

and thought he saw a quiver. A little more passion and he excitedly saw

some REAL movement! After playing some new Olde English tunes he had

recently learned, he encountered success at last – the little carpet that

COULD!

Well the rest is history… Gramps was so excited by his success that he

succeeded in starting his own carpet flying service you might have

heard of. It’s called BBC . No one else knew that it stood for “Building

Better Crumpets”, not even his cousin the Real Estate mogul, Donald

Crumpet.

Which all goes to show, that a Crumpet’s succulent taste combined

with a Trumpet’s tooting Mellow Yellow sounds can make our

imagination, or even an old carpet soar above any cloud in the sky.

The message of this story is that a flight of fantasy, whether real or

imagined, can assist us in opening our minds and energies in order to

find our way through life’s travails.

The Mellow Yellow theme is to remind us of two important factors that

can help us get through even some of life’s most trying tribulations:

(1) To be able to maintain an even mental keel, without being

overwhelmed or depressed; and

(2) To see that there is a plan in the world – for just as the sun

rises and every day without fail, so too, we must be able to see the

beauty that exists all around us.

I live in the Middle East and we are unfortunately, surrounded, with

acts of horrific terror which we need to put into perspective so that we

can lead our lives with some semblance of order. Children murdered

in a pizza shop, parents butchered in the Twin Towers, US forces in

Iraq, are all indicators of what we are all facing. It is important to see

the human dimension, the families missing a parent (or two), the

orphaned children who are left to survive in a world they (,and we,

)cannot understand. We must be strong, we must be brave and most

of all, we need to have an approach to life.

I believe that with a synthesis of (1) marveling at G-d's beautiful

creations (ie, the sun's Yellow), and (2) realizing that we ALL have

what to be thankful for - on a DAILY basis, (ie. Mellow), that we can

deal with whatever life happens to throw our way. This is not just with

regards to atrocities, but rather is an approach to anyone who goes

through a difficult time.

(4) Why should I win? By outlining the Mellow Yellow message, by

reading the ideass of the others in the Forum, I feel as if in a certain

way, I have already won. Yes, one of us will actually win the very

generous prize, yet by sharing our thoughts and feelings in this

contest, I can't help but feel that in a certain way, we are ALL winners

today.


Chaim Morgulis

sopranogod

Answers to 1 and 2: Tell us how you would improve a trumpet with a new feature or design. Give a theme for a trumpet.

When I first heard about this contest, I thought it was too good to be true. I knew that I had to enter simply because I had nothing to lose. So when I thought about customizing a trumpet, I knew that I wanted it to be designed for lead playing. My customized trumpet should be light and have a smaller, straighter flared bell in order to achieve that specific lead sound. That is why I chose the scratch gold plating with a medium classic bell. However, I knew that these two characteristics alone would not improve the trumpet and so I thought of how to make the trumpet look “cooler.” This is where my theme originated. I decided to have my trumpet symbolize jazz and the past and present jazz trumpet greats. It would look cool from far away because of the scratch gold plating and it would also have famous quotes engraved on it so that when viewed up close, it would in a way pay tribute to the jazz trumpet players of the past. That is why my trumpet would be called “The Definition of Cool” or “The Definition” for short.

More specifically, the trumpet would be hand scratched and have polished accents in the normal places like a standard model. However, “The Definition” would also have polished accents any place that text appeared. The first text would be a quote from Louis Armstrong and would appear on the trumpet as, “What we play is life.” –Louis Armstrong. It would be located as close to the middle of the lead pipe as possible, without going beyond the little piece of metal that wraps around the lead pipe (it is under the pinky hook if that makes it easier to visualize and understand what I am talking about). There would also be two more quotes that would go on the flat plating that is connected to the tuning slide and the other side that wraps around (like in this picture of Wynton Marsalis’ horn at http://www.duke.edu/~kbk2/wynton6.jpg ). However, it does not have to be shaped exactly this way. They should each be cut the same way and the cut should be a soft curve. It should be somewhere in between a straight line and a curve that is as sharp as the tubing of the trumpet (I know you guys at Eclipse would use good taste 8) ). The quotes should be in the center of the plating and only polished where text is, as mentioned before. On the left side of the trumpet, where the Eclipse tuning slide is found, will be another quote by Louis Armstrong and engraved as "Jazz is undefined. It should be felt. If you gotta ask, you'll never know." -Louis Armstrong. On the right side will be a quote by Miles Davis and would be engraved as “Always look ahead, but never look back.” –Miles Davis. Although this quote could possibly relate to any subject other than jazz, it holds personal significance for me. I try not to dwell too much on things and always try to move on and better myself, whether it be music related or just life in general. I would also want my name and a little drawing on the straight part of the tubing where it enters the third valve (it is the part of the tubing that starts with the lead pipe and then wraps around and straightens when going into the third valve casing). It would be entered as JONATHAN MANNESS and followed by a little 2-D stick figure drawing of a figure playing a trumpet. A 3-D picture of what I had in mind can be viewed at http://www.music123.com/Item/?itemno=83029 (click on "zoom+" for a bigger picture). The reason why I want this particular drawing is because it has become somewhat of a trademark symbol for me. Whenever I sign my name, I usually accompany my signature with this drawing and I figured that this would only personalize my trumpet even more. The drawing should be almost the same size as my name. Finally, along the top of the bell, where most trumpet makers put their trumpet name, “The Definition” should be engraved. I chose to only engrave the trumpet’s abbreviated name because I have had nicknames all my life and think that they are cool and this ties into the theme of the trumpet. The font for the quotes and name of the trumpet would be the same font that you use on your receivers and the font used for my name would be more of an angular font so that it complements the stick figure trumpeter. My name and the quotes would also be on the same side as the Eclipse engraving so that when the trumpet is on its side, all text and half the name of the trumpet could be seen.

As for a slight change to the horn to help support my playing, I have thought of a design to the pinky hook so that I can comfortably rest my pinky finger on top of the hook and still have the choice to put my pinky in the hook. My current horn, a Bach Stradivarius, has a little nub at the end of the hook (it can be viewed at http://www.selmer.com/brass/stradtrp/images/180_01.jpg ). I like how the hook curves up at the end but instead of a nub, it should have a groove instead so it is more comfortable to rest the pinky on top. Since the tendons in your hands are all connected, I usually put my pinky on top so that my fingers are free and I can play faster. The reason I still want a hook is so that I can put my pinky under and get a little extra leverage when playing high (because we all know that more pressure is better! Just a little joke for those serious trumpet players reading this :) ). And before I forget about the other specifications, the trumpet would have the amado water keys, standard weight button caps, 1st valve slide hook, and a 3rd valve slide ring. In my humble opinion, "The Definition" is a pretty sweet lead trumpet. Speaking of things that are pretty sweet, here is my short story.

3. Short story: Living a Pretty Sweet Dream

It was time for the biggest gig of Jon Manness’ young career. A month ago, he had received a call from the band manager to sub in for the lead trumpet player in Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Noveau Band at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. Jon realized that few opportunities like this would come to him and so he immediately said yes. Once the music was sent to him, Jon went right to work, using his new baby, his trumpet, named “The Definition of Cool,” which he normally called for short “The Definition.” He had designed this Eclipse, custom-made masterpiece and it made him sound like the legend Maynard himself and gave him the confidence he needed to play lead in front of anyone.

He had his music memorized and down cold, most of which did not take much effort, as Jon usually played along with the band’s recordings for fun. Once Jon had his stylish Armani suit and leather jacket on, “The Definition” put away in its leather case, and his Maynard CDs in hand, he headed out of his apartment and straight into his sleek BMW Z4 to get some dinner and then head off to the Kimmel Center for the big show.

For a bite to eat, he headed to Pat’s King of Steaks on 9th Street in Philly for one of Pat’s famous cheese steaks, along with fries (or chips for the people at Eclipse), and a diet Pepsi (so he does not get fat). Once he gobbled his food down, he reminded himself to brush his teeth once he arrived at the Kimmel Center so he wouldn’t get any leftovers in his new baby trumpet.

As Jon heads to the Kimmel Center “Birdland,” the greatest Maynard chart ever, started playing. He immediately gets pumped up and starts screaming along with Maynard, just as the center comes into view and he doesn’t even get out of the car until the song is finished. He even thinks of how he will be playing that chart tonight, since the band will be using it for their encore. Once he enters the building, he finds a bathroom (to brush his teeth of course!), meets the manager, the band, and the man himself, and chats with them all before the performance.

It was all history in the making for Jon from then on. He was playing as if he had been with the band for years. He filled the building with his screaming notes and amazing sound, two qualities that he had mastered with “The Definition.” After the encore, the band got a standing ovation and Jon knew he had had his best performance ever. The band congratulated Jon and Maynard told him that if he ever needed a trumpet player on the east coast, he would know who to call.

Jon was in complete euphoria after the events of that evening. As he was leaving, a young college student came up to him and congratulated him on his performance.

“How did you get so good, Mr. Manness?”
“Well kid, I studied with the right people, practiced correctly, and never gave up.”
“What kind of trumpet were you using?”
“Well it’s a one-of-a-kind. I call it ‘The Definition.’”
“Cool.”
“Exactly.”

4. Why I should win.

Aside from receiving the trumpet of my dreams, I feel I should win this contest because the trumpet I envisioned is a quality and legitimate lead trumpet that is worth creating. From a playing standpoint, the scratch gold plating and medium classic bell creates a powerful, light weight lead trumpet that would scream over any ensemble. This trumpet would also be more comfortable and easier for me to play due to the improved pinky ring and I would have a relaxed and free hand all at the same time.

However, “The Definition’s” visual appeal is what makes it a one-of-a-kind. From far away, the trumpet stands out with its scratch gold plating, but is also not too flashy and gaudy. Only when up close would one notice the engravings and other personal touches that make “The Definition” unique. I feel that the trumpet is visually subtle, yet distinguished and personalized at the same time.

Overall, these two components create a theme that acts as a tribute to the jazz greats that I have always looked up to and admired. After all, imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Hopefully, I can live up to the level that these jazz greats, past and present, have set. Hopefully, I can do this with a custom-made Eclipse trumpet.

Jon Manness

PS- I would like to thank my girlfriend, Alyssa, for editing my paper and supporting me throughout the contest.

PSS-Thank you Eclipse, TrumpetMaster.com, and everyone else involved in putting this contest together. May the best design win!

tommy t

I. I'm no engineer, metallurgist, acoustician, artisan or anything else. I do like adjustable gap receivers, Saturn water keys and a stop to keep the first valve slide from falling off.

II. My theme is "The Plain Truth." It's a horn with minimum ornamentation, no engraving, no contrasting colors, no inlaid buttons, bracing only where bracing is functional and no decorative fancy stuff related to it. Smooth, simple lines, probably brushed gold, just a plain trumpet, but the truth is heard when it speaks. not when it is just seen.

III. The Life and Journeys of a Trumpet Player

I'm a trumpet player. You don't know me, 'less you happen a been at the Pit up to Dawson City where I play Thursday nights with the rock and roll band or over at Peggy's for the jams on Sunday afternoon. I mostly just play for a share a the tips, which ain't much in the summertime since nobody shows up 'cept the squatters from 'cross the River who don't show much cash and ain't nothing a tall the rest the year cause just plain nobody shows up anyhow. That's when it's just dark all day and the cold inside is plain worse than the cold on the top a Crotchhead Mountain outside a Lead Mine on the worst day a the year.

See, I's born in Lead Mine, West Virginia and never did nothing right 'cept make music. I weren't going to make it through school no matter how long I kept at it and all the folks said I's the best trumpet player they done heard. Least that's what all the folks said in Tucker County. I figured to take the bit in my own teeth and head to cut my initials right on the biggest tree in the biggest city I could find. Hitched in a big rig with trucker clear up to Cincinnati but didn't have no more luck than a ferret on a gum stump. What happened is I went to a record store and asked 'em where the music wuz. Told me 'bout some open mike at a joint near that college there. I found that place and I play't most of what I knew and that be just 'bout every fiddle song they ever play't, 'cept I play't 'em on trumpet so they sound all bright and clear 'stead a out a toon and all scratchy like.

Well, I's not telling much more 'bout that but I kept goin' north and west and not very fast and not fed very good neither.

Indianapolis wuz 'bout the same, and Chicago, 'cept I went to a blues club and they didn't let me play after 'bout one time through the verse but they fed me good every nite with left over ham or sometimes chicken from the kitchen and some of the blues players they showed me some notes I didn't used to use and how to put 'em together to sound all sad and lonely like, which wuz pretty good cause that was pretty much how I's feeling anyhow. One day one a them blues players took me to Detroit cause he was going there to see his family and where he put me with some boys that wuz playing those blues like they wuz rock and roll and I liked that 'cause I knew rock and roll anyhow but I just didn't know 'bout playing rock and roll on a trumpet instead a on a guitar or like that. Those boys in Detroit said I wuz funky and I told them I didn't have no place to get a bath but they said funky was good when I play't on my trumpet and I could get a bath at his uncle's place.

I spend'd the whole winter being funky in Detroit and getting food for playing and getting a bath a that uncle's place and then some people in Detroit said maybe I should go on up east there to Toronto 'cause everybody they wuz in Toronto wanted to be like we wuz in Detroit and wanted to hear me play funky on my trumpet and I might be even getting paid money to do it like that and all.

Well, that ain't quite how it worked, but I sure met some nice people in Toronto and they showed me how to play some better notes and I lernt all 'bout American jazz in Toronto, Canada, but that ain't so funny as I thought it were at first 'cause Toronto, Canada, is part of America just like America is too and all that. Then some trouble with the law comed up 'bout me being the wrong kind a American even though Toronto is part of America and I weren't allow to play anymore but some people who been hearing me play knew how to fix it so I could play if I wuz a artist, but I din't have to paint any pictures and all that but just have somebody promise to pay me money when I play't. They said I's to be paid money when I play't when I'm going to play jazz in that city Winnepeg.

I went on out to Winnepeg but I think the part 'bout getting paid money in Winnepeg wusn't never true but just to me to go on out a Toronto and away from the law with the right kind of paper work and all that.

I jist kept going and the people in Toronto wuz right that now I wuz playing jazz all across the Canada and 'cause of that I wuz getting fed and paid tips when ever I stopped at least I wuz if I could find the kind a place that would get me fed and pay me tips for playing jazz. I lernt I could play jazz with most any group I came to in just any place there wuz only sometimes if they wuz a rock and roll band I could play funky and I liked that too. I spended the winter in Calgary where there is not much to do anytime of year and there is nothing to do in the winter except for people to go to bars and clubs and listen to rock and roll and jazz and country music. Well, I lernt my jazz in Toronto and my funky rock and roll in Detroit and country music weren't nothing but the blues from Chicago played just like a old Tucker County fiddle toon and I got through that winter just 'bout as fine as a yard a ice on the fish pond.

Come that Spring, what I could call friends in Calgary sent me out to the mountains to play for the tourists in some pretty big old road houses. I felt pretty much at home back in the mountains but they were a hole heap bigger than the mountains in West Virginia which is where I grew up and all that. I played all summer and that old piano player at the hotel in Banff taught me how to relax and just ease through some of the music and not get all the people all stirred up when they shouldn't be stirred up like that and then I got to spend the Winter right there at that big old ski resort. Now we had got ski resorts in West Virginia so I already knew all 'bout that.

Things wuz good but you know I had jist got in that old habit of moving on every summer so I started hitching north until pretty soon I figured I had been going north for too long. I went north all Summer, playing a little but mostly jist using up my stake and living long the edges of a mighty lot a nothing at all but trees and all that.

As Fall wuz moving in I wuz in Whitehorse. They wuz two music clubs and only one trumpet player in Whitehorse that could play funky rock and roll and that easy jazz stuff both. Well, that seemed to be a opportunity jist a presenting itself to me and wanting for the taking. So I tied the old bridle to the post in Whitehorse and settled down for a Winter of easy living and all that.

Well, that wuz a mistake of a major proportion. What wuz two music clubs in Whitehorse in the summer was none at all in the winter. Just stinky old bars and all the people just staying at home cuz it wuz cold and not even going out on Saturday night. I 'bout died. I shared a room in a boarding house outside a town near the Yukon River with another American of the same kind I wuz 'cept he had come to Whitehorse to take tourists on skis in the woods in the Winter. Even I knew by then that they weren't no tourists in Whitehorse in the Winter and what kind a tourist would want go out in woods on skis if they were? By January, I wore every thing I had all day every day at the same time from three pare a socks to four shirts and two caps and I wuz still cold. I didn't eat hardly anything all winter and when once and a while I got a big meal at a church supper and would play some church toons for those folks, I's feeling like the old coon dog when grandpa opens the door!

I jist made it through that Winter and knew I weren't never going to spend the Winter in Whitehorse ever again. So I left that town heading up to Dawson City.

Summer in Dawson City wuz short but it is good with the tourists just throwing money out widows a there vehicles and the hole town looking like a trailer park on the poor side a Charleston. Six clubs playing music every night and half the afternoons and most of it funky rock and roll 'cept I got paid a real salary for doing that easy kind a jazz on three days a week in the middle of the afternoon when youn't have nothing else to do anyhow. I'd bought a flugelhorn from a tourist who set in with us one day and the people who wanted that easy jazz stuff liked the flugelhorn real good and tipped real good and all that.

But now I'd got smart. Some people I got to know showed how you'd make some cash panning a little up the rivers and some people showed how you'd save them tips to fed you self for the winter by catching fish with a net in the river 'stead of a pole and some other people showed how to get ready to keep warm fore it even got cold. I like on to these people. It feels a lot like home in Tucker County where folks watch out for each other 'cept for the tourists and we all watch out for their cash. I done made it through two winters now and this is the third. I hain't stayed put for this long since I wuz 18 and dropped out a junior high school to go on up that road and make my fortune.

I never did make that fortune but I'm still a trumpet player. You'll never know me now, 'less you happen a be at the Pit up to Dawson City where I play Thursday nights with the rock and roll band or over at Peggy's for the jams on Sunday afternoon.


IV. Tell the truth, my story isn't that different from the one above. I left southern Indiana and came to Boston, MA, to become rich and famous. I really did play in Dawson City last year, but I was playing a $51 cornet. I still can't afford a $5,000 trumpet. Fact is, I'm not even sure I'd be comfortable with one, but boy, my old flugelhorn sure could use that second or third prize.

Tommy T.