brunets

Hi!

Wow! it seems that it was more a torture room than a trumpet exhibition.

I sincerely don't know how one can try an instrument in a room full of people with some playing nearby. I did it once in a classical guitar event in Montreal and didn't like the experience. And it also didn't help to appreciate the instrument because of the noise, the bad acoustics, etc.

To me, testing a new instrument is an intimate process and people around are disturbing it, even if they are just listening. Moreover being in a room with a decent acoustic is a must.

My 2 Canadian cents

Stéphane

Fluffy615

Wimer and Tony I agree with you. I must admit while trying out the NYTC horns I played some scales up around C and D, just to compare to my own horn. I wanted to see if it was easier and better in tune than mine. But I tried to play to the wall away from everyone, and I also tried to hear sound quality, but that was difficult. I remember going to this event in years past and this was always a problem, but it used to be in bigger rooms. It didn't seem to be as bad. This is a much smaller facility. I love high notes as much as the next guy, but I had to get out there. You had to actually yell if you wanted to have a conversation. But then there was the sanity of Chris Gekker's performance! What a contrast. All the performers were great.
Bob

wiseone2

You hit the nail squarely on the head.
When I try a new instrument, I try to hear how the instrument and I get along.
I must see how softly I can play on the horn. Does the horn have good intonation? Can I play my vision of the trumpet, or does the horn fight me. This, and many other things about the horn can be discovered without blowing down the walls.
Wilmer

Richard Oliver

Yup. Load the trumpet buds in a car. Eat a loaf of white bread apiece and drink several Rock Stars. Play high notes until a nose bleed sets in.

Well, glad I missed that part. Would have loved to meet so many people I've come to enjoy and respect on here and maybe try my hand at playing some great horns.

tromj

One of the nicest compliments I received was at ITG from Bob Findlay, who checked me out comparing my Yamaha Z horn to some Hub Vaan Laar stuff. After playing a few scales and long tones, he said, "it's nice to see someone who remembers how to check out a horn." I once got an ovation at an old Brass Conference when I played "Moonlight Becomes You" in "C", so there were no notes higher than a "B" in the staff, and a lot of low "A"s. The room stopped, and ll the exhibitors thanked me for the break. It was pretty funny.
For those who remember, Ray Anthony played a whole lot of lovely solos using just the low register. And he could play high. Just didn't need to all the time.

ALLCHOPS

I couldn't even hear my wife on my cell phone on the way home... As sort of a high note player I did enjoy some of those dubbas but this was rediculous!

Even the guys who could barely hit a high C kept on trying. One guy kept saying he was still in the process of finding the spot on the horn. I should have just told him come up for air and stick to the A on the staff he kept hitting!


AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!

oj

Here is Maurice Andre testing out horns:

YouTube - Maurice Andre testing horns 1

YouTube - Maurice Andre testing horns 2

.. in the background you can hear the double high C guys

Ole

Sterling

At the ITG conference this year I tried out horns playing the opening of the Halsey Stevens Sonata and Prelude and Ballade by Balay. The Halsey Stevens is a nice piece for trumpet articulation, agility, and range. Prelude and Ballade is just a nice lyric tune. I felt kind of strange not playing a bunch of high notes, but the guys at the Eclipse booth noticed and liked what I was doing. Thanks! The Monette room was similar, with lots of screaming trumpet players. I was trying out mouthpieces, playing toward a wall so I could hear myself. Manny Laureano came up to me and said to play into the center of the room, that I could hear my own voice among others. It was difficult, but he was correct. Thanks Manny.

tromj

I like the Halsey Stevens too, to grab that low G in the first section.

wiseone2

I played quite a few impressive horns on Trumpet Friday. Dillon Music had a few Bachs that were quite good.................used Bachs That little Jean Baptise picc with the rotary on the third slide was very nice. The horns that Chuck was here with were great, darn near every one of them was a keeper.
Felix's exhibit was across the room from the screamers, I love that New York horn that he makes.
I look forward to next year's event.
Wilmer