tpter1

My dream: to continue teaching, but also do more performing. I do not, and never will, I must sadly admit, have the background to play in a major orchestra. If I could rewind my life 30 years, I would take fuller advantage of my surroundings and do something about that, but hindsight is always 20/20, eh?

While in college (to make a long story short.. or a short story needlessly longer, maybe), I always thought of myself as being a teacher, and playing in a local per-service orchestra somehwere.

I am acting on it (auditioning wherever I get a chance), but there's not much within 2 hours of here.

Great topic, Ed. Might I add: good things do NOT come to those who wait, but rather to those who make them happen.

oldlou

For all of you, please do whatever it is that you know up front must be done to acheive your personal goal before you get old and in poor health.This will relegate you to looking back at your life with misgivings for not preparing yourself and working diligently toward whatever it is that you want. In my case, at seventy years of age and in rather poor health I consider myself fortunate to be able to play at the community band level. At least I am still playing my trumpets and cornets in making music. I do feel fortunate on this front. I let myself get stuck in a dead end time consumptive job away from home all week each week. This meant that I could not play my horns. This ended up being a forty five year hiatus. I do NOT recommend this kind of a career path.


OLDLOU>>

Kenzo

OLDLOU brings a great deal of wisdom here. Thanks Lou.

Ed, what a great topic for conversation!

As for me, I think I am living my dream job. While not what I envisioned as a career path, I am fortunate enough to be in a position to support my family by playing the trumpet.

When I left college I pictured myself teaching and on the audition circuit and eventually landing a position in a mid-market regional orchestra. Well...

I ended up playing in some regional orchestras as a sub/extra, subbing on Broadway, doing some studio work, church work, regional theater pit work, quintet work, jazz combos, rock bands, big bands, teaching (some very dedicated private students) and now booking my own groups. I have had the good fortune of steady work (for the most part). I have had the opportunity to work with some incredible musicians and performers and am one of the truly grateful to be in the position I am in.

Where will I be in 10 years? I hope to continue with the variety of work that I have and hopefully find the time to write enough material to take a group into the studio and record my own music (hopefully getting enough sponsers to fund the project).

I realize that I would not be where I am if not for an incredibly supportive wife who tolerates the ups and downs of this business. Without her, I'd most likely have a "normal" day job.

I have enjoyed reading all the other "dreams."

I wish you all well.

bandman

Let me tell you about Louisiana Lightening. His primary residence is about 4 miles from my house. He is a “real guy” who used to go out to the park and sit and watch kids play Pony league baseball. He would sign balls and hats, and talk to the kids. He is a real Cajun gentleman!

I used to play in a weekly pick-up basketball game in which he would often play. He never acted like he was any more special than any of us. He was not a great BB player, but it was very obvious that he was a very special athlete even when playing a sport other than baseball. I enjoyed the times I got to play with him. My life was too busy and I had to drop out of the game, but it was cool getting to know him.

The two things I most respect about Ron are his work with Special Olympics, and his work with young people. I have an article that I keep in my desk that has one of my favorite quotes, which I have used with my students on many occasions.

“I believe that young people should develop self-esteem, to have confidence in what they do," Guidry says. “The only person they really need to worry about keeping happy and proud is themselves, not the fans, not the rivals—just the person in the mirror. They also need to know that if they can accept winning, they have to accept losing, too. Learning to accept both says a lot about how you feel about yourself."

I have taught a lot of Guidry's here in Scott, most of which are related to him. Many of my friends played ball either with him, or against him in high school. He was very successful as a pitcher, and I bet he will be great in his new role as the Yankees pitching coach.

Sorry for the long post off topic. You just happened to have brought up someone who I really admire and respect!

jcstites

Ultimate dream or realistic dream? heh

Ultimate - Play in a major orchestra. Teach trumpet.

Realistic - Play in any orchestra, teach at a university.

I really dont care what I do, as long as I can make a living doing what I love to do, play!

trumpet blower88

This really is an interesting topic, I've really enjoyed reading everyones dreams and I would like to share mine as well.

I started playing piano when I was four years old. In 4th grade I joind the school orchestra playing viola. I caught on quickly and in only a couple months my teacher moved me to the 6th grade orchestra. The next year (I was 10 years old) at our first rehersal I was placed first chair. My teacher, Scott Pendleton, told me that I had something very special, a talent that he had never seen in any of his other students before. He told me to never give up on anything I do in life, especialy music, and whatever happens, I always need to push forward and I'll succeed in anything I want.
After rehersal I went back to class, just like I had done every time before, and he went off to a music teacher meeting. I made it to class, but unfortunatly he never made it to the meeting. His car was hit by another car running a red light, he was thrown out of the spinning vehical and was crushed by his own car. I remember going to his funeral and playing "My Heart Will Go On" in our orchestra, and we listend to his brass quintet, that was now only two trumpets, a trombone, and a tuba playing an arrangment of "Amazing Grace" but missing the french horn part.

I later found this quote in an article that he wrote about a month before his death: "For some reason, I've been "called" to teach. I have a directive to change as many lives as I come into contact with. The opportunities that have been afforded to me time and again are too staggering to have been created by chance or on a whim. The message I hear calls me to 'do more, be more, go forth…’ When my work is done, someone will continue on one step at a time." - Scott Pendleton

My dream was passed on to me by a 31 year old elementry school orchestra teacher whos life was cut short by an irresponsible driver. Now that his work is done, I feel that I am that someone who will continue on one step at a time.

My dream is simply to keep the passion and love for music that Mr. Pendleton had, and that I have going on to the next generations. To be honest, I don't care where I end up in ten years, as long as I'm teaching music I can live dream.


But I also always thought being an astronaut would be pretty cool...

camelbrass

To the young guys and girls...just go for it, it's all in front of you.

Personally, I had a choice of careers and was going to be a winner either way. I started playing with brass bands in Australia when I was about 8. At 18 my choice was either music or commerce and I chose commerce and don't regret 1 day of nearly 30 years as a banker. I've lived in some great places around the world and at nearly 50 am finacially secure. My heart, however, was always with being a brass player. I started playing again about 7 years ago when my time became my own again.

Recently I started to teach in a small way and if I were to choose my dream career from here on in it would be to teach. I really, really enjoy it...particularly beginners, adult or school student. There's something magic when a student 'gets it'. My ambitions as a teacher aren't complicated...if my students go on to bigger and better things then that's well and good but as long as they have a good sound, are solid readers and competent musicians (by definition that must mean they're enjoying it) I will have been a success. I'll leave the Haydn and the Hummel up to others.

Great topic.


Regards,


Trevor

Dave Mickley

I hope to retire in two years so that I can slow down and practice more. I would absolutely love to be involved in a church that has a person like Dan M.leading the music program. I was playing every Sun. at my church until recently. I wish to give back to God what he has given me. Dave

silverstar

Wow....those are some great stories!

I guess I'll share what I can...

I've been playing trumpet since 4th grade, but singing and dancing since I was a little girl of about...3 or 4. I've never really had any formal voice training/dance lessons...but, that doesn't matter, it's all fun. I love music...it's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

My dream career would be to sit in some kind of band/symphony/orchestra/jazz combo/whatever and just play. I'd love nothing better but to rehearse and go to concerts all the time....I wouldn't even care if I were last chair. I love playing in a group.

If I couldn't do that, I'd love to work with really little kids...like, preschool through 5th grade, and introduce them to music and instruments and stuff. I mean, I've seen how my little brother and his friends go nuts when I bring out my trumpet. They get so excited, and they are really interested in it. The same thing happens when you bring out a clarinet or a recorder or a guitar or percussion stuff. It's just really cool to see kids that little get so excited over music.

Lara

trumpetmike

To keep doing basically what I am doing, with a quadrupling of my salary.

I enjoy my job, but the pay for teaching around here is pathetic.

If money was no object (and this is supposed to be a dream job afterall) I would like to allow many of the less priviliged students I come across the chance to learn an instrument for nothing. Having seen the effect that learning an instrument can have upon many people (especially on those that don't always shine academically), it is such a shame that many of the students that could most benefit from learning an instrument are precisely those that are unable to afford it.

I would like to be doing more playing as well (not a lot happening over here at the moment), especially ensemble stuff - dream ensemble job? - I would love to play in Summit Brass - the finest group I have ever heard.

International piccolo trumpeter?