ccNochops

First time in 28 years, sat in a concert band & played. Kinda like riding a bike....except I fell off a lot Got me a band to practice with, new trumpet stand & mute....shoot, I'm gonna go pro here in another week or so! Thanx Tootsall, it wasn't that bad and I really enjoyed myself....gonna make that come back. It's back in the blood..........chuck

Richard Oliver

No Chops, Welcome! I'm a combacker too, 25 yr lay off. Good stuff here.

Happy Practicing,

Richard Oliver

Tootsall

Way to go, guys. Getting into a group is great fun... new people, new music, and INCENTIVE!

ccNochops

Been three months now since I first posted up, been hiding in the upstairs loft irratating the neighbors. New case, new mouthpiece, lots of practice.....did I mention lots of practice? Something snapped last night in the X-mas concert I was playing for the retired folks. I was sitting center of the trumpet section, tooling along on a second part....actually had been following along for a couple of months and then BAM, it hit me. "Hey, did I just play the pick up note to that lick? ....not "waiting" for the leads cue? Hey wait a minute here....that music ain't upside down anymore!" It was like a light coming on, the horn started sounding "fatter", I started playing MY part, I finally felt confidence like I did 30 years ago. Yeah a blew a few notes, got lost once, but it actually came back together! Ran a chill up my spine, can't put all the words to it, but I returned to being a trumpet player last night. I AM LIKE SOOOOOOOO PUMPED UP! I know I'm gonna make it back from the dark side......chuck

Eclipsehornplayer

Chuck,

This is a great story......

Mine is very similar...

I can see the fire you have from the words you have written.

Welcome back indeed!

ccNochops

Thanx KHP, I had gone to a local music shop several months ago looking for a case for my Holton, the last case was destroyed 25+ years ago in a fire. The shop finally got one in last week & the guy had a display case full of Marcinkiewicz mouthpieces too. Seeings the last mouthpiece I bought was in high school (a Holton Maynard Ferguson model, tapered cup, big rim) and was the one I was attempting to return on, I sat down & started trying them out. MAN, what a difference 40 years has made! I played thru about ten different, tossing them out one by one until I found this E12.4 Ingram model. Yeah, I know, probally not the best choice by alot of standards, but it sounded sweet. It re-sparked me from a point where I was saying, "I'm not going to make it". I was using a mute in the shop as not to blow out the neighborhood and when I pulled the cork, it was like old times. The old mouthpiece was presenting sooooo much back pressure, I just didn't realize it. The selling point was when the "spousal unit" told me she could tell the difference (she is definately non-musical), I was hooked (I wasn't gonna turn loose of that mouthpiece at any rate). Things the way they are with me, I'm figuring this mouthpiece is like 8 million dollars, had to be 'cause it's the one I picked, I love it, & I want it. Shocked me.....under 50 bucks. Best money I have spent in a long time.
So, lesson learned, coming back? Go out and buy a brand new mouthpiece that you can play on......chuck Oh yeah, the case? ProTec......like socks on a rooster....way too kewl!

Richard Oliver

Welcome Chuck! And yes you're right.

Happy Practicing,

Richard Oliver

ccNochops

Been 32 years since I last sat in an orchestra pit....sat in one last night. Spooky thing, played the same piece of music as I played so long ago....same arrangement, same part. I guess some things never change....weird, huh? The come back is moving along now, been about 5 months, the chops are really filling in, the music reading is getting better, I guess. Bottom line.....best thing I've done with my life in a long time, I've missed the horn & the friends one makes with musicians in your life.......chuck