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drKmod · 11-30-2003, 10:18 PM

How I would improve a trumpet with a new feature or design: Since I’m only a player and not an sound engineer I wouldn’t have the first clue as to what would improve on what is already available in the marketplace of current ideas. I would say that keeping the ends of the trigger springs hidden or tucked under so I don’t prick my thumb or finger on the ends of the springs would be good. An ingenious way of oiling, like a zert, so I wouldn’t have to stop and unscrew the valves to oil them.
The Theme: I would name the horn" "My Baby" After all, its mine, isn't it? We can configure it anyway we want to...can't we.
The theme of my horns would be “My Baby” or Babies. Meaning more than one horn, eventually. Maybe twins, uh...two at a time. Their could even be a series of Horns falling under the Baby category. As a trumpeter/cornetist I prefer my trumpets to be bright, lead like and my cornets to be more blending, maybe even flugelhorn like in sound for small group, jazz work. I think instrument coloring is more important than braces shaped like initials, medallions, nuts and bolts, rockets, trucks or some NASCAR symbol. Braces should be functional or not there. “My Baby” should have the appropriate coloring. I imagine the valve block being iridescent white, the slides being powder blue and the bell from the first valve being pale pink morphing into red at the bell indicating a hot sound! The inside of the bell could be polished brass or colored, either. “Baby” would cover both sexes with the pale blue and pink coloring. “Baby” would be taken good care of with nurturing and easy handling. The only difference is I would be the only one growing and learning. Thank you for my new horn “Baby”. Remember, if you’re going to pray for rain, bring an umbrella.

A Short Story:

For the past several years a band appears at the older, Shepton Mall, in Oklahoma City, on NW 23rd St during the Holidays and plays for a couple of hours. The important thing about this band is the players are all older men and a woman. Every year they have arrived in an older, racing green Jaguar with a red ribbon tied to it, they are all dressed in suits and ties with overcoats, they use no music and play wonderfully.
There are very few shoppers at this mall, only walkers and exercisers. Most of the stores have moved to other more popular malls. The offices close at 5:00pm so the mall is open for walkers until 9:00pm.
They park on the West side of the mall. They enter around 6:00pm into the large, central area where most all walkers have to pass by and they play their music. The statesmanlike 4 string banjo player starts out with a slow version of “Just A Closer Walk”. Joining in is the attractive, lady clarinetist with her soft arpeggios and octave jumps sounding more like Bob Snyder than a local clarinetist. The trombonist slides into the second chorus with mellow sounds. The single, strap held, snare drum is rhythmically keeping everyone together while the trumpet brings the full sound altogether.
These five musicians bring their insulated cups with their choices of liquids to drink, usually coffee. The crowd of people slowly began to gather around the musicians. The musicians stand in a circle and play to one another so they can hear and the crowd stands behind them as they play. The banjo player, dressed in a 3 piece suit, announces the next tune, counts 1,2,1234 and they play another Christmas tune for the crowd. After about 40 minutes or so they take a break and the crowd waits for their return.
The almost reverent atmosphere while these musicians are playing is very unusual. There is no excessive talking, no hollering or wandering around. Just people enjoying good Christmas Music.
However, during the 2002 Christmas season, there were some younger couples showing up with small children for this occasion. The small coffee shop stayed open for the music and the listeners had their hot coffee, hot chocolate and pretzels.
The lady clarinetist asked the crowd to join in in singing “Silent Night” as the last tune of the evening and the crowd sang as though they were a choir with harmonies. They all exchanged pleasantries, thanks to one another and all left the Mall rather orderly. The plans were made for the 2003 season.
Liz Humphreys , a local reporter, contacted the lady clarinetist, Ramona Patrick, a lawyer in Edmond, OK and asked her if the band would play this year and she said they planned on it. Patrick wouldn’t reveal her age, although she looks considerably younger than the men.
The drummer’s name is Larry Snow, 65, a semi-retired professor of math. The trombonist’s name is Roger McGuckin, 64, a retired city planner from Oregon now living in Oklahoma City. The banjo player is 65 year old David Davenport, a studio musician and record producer. He is currently working with upcoming country singer, Elizabeth Cole. The 63 year old trumpet player, Jay Silverii, is a retired medical salesman and musician. He was a vocalist and trumpet player in the Grand Hotel house
band in the 60’s and 70's.
This group got started at a high school class reunion and have played together since 1994. They call themselves “Rebound”. They don’t know why they named themselves Rebound so they don’t have to explain it.
The local media has been aware of this group and their music for over five years. The property management team at the Mall doesn’t seem to care as long as this tradition brings people to their mall. “The tradition will continue as long as people come to hear “, Patrick said. We don’t charge for our music but a man once threw a dollar bill in my clarinet case. Liz Humphreys reported this to be a very popular band in the area during the holiday season. Oklahoma City is proud to have caring people like these musicians.

Why I feel I should win this Contest:

My dedication to the last horn manufacturer has lasted almost forty years. I still have my original horn I played in college and in the bands for the next few years. From Selmer I have had a Flugelhorn, a cornet and my K Modified Trumpet. I have sold the flugelhorn and the cornet. I am ready to move on to a newer horn to keep up with my counterparts. I need a more open lead sound as I have a new gig this coming year. I am playing in two bands now and am adding one this holiday season. Jay Silverii of the Rebound Band has had major surgery and will not be able to play this season. The band has asked me to take his place while he recuperates. Jay suggested me and they all agreed. What is noteworthy is that all but the drummer play custom instruments. The banjo, hand inlaid sparkles, hand built and beautiful and the trombone are custom built to specs. My new Eclipse “Baby” powder blue, pink to red trumpet would be the talk of music society in Oklahoma City. They’ve never seen such a thing around these parts before.

Best to you this coming year.
Trumpeter Don Huddleston
drhuddle@swbell.net

ps I will post pictures of "Baby" as soon as it arrives.

11-30-2003, 10:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
drKmod New Friend Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Okla. City, OK Posts: 32	How I would improve a trumpet with a new feature or design: Since I’m only a player and not an sound engineer I wouldn’t have the first clue as to what would improve on what is already available in the marketplace of current ideas. I would say that keeping the ends of the trigger springs hidden or tucked under so I don’t prick my thumb or finger on the ends of the springs would be good. An ingenious way of oiling, like a zert, so I wouldn’t have to stop and unscrew the valves to oil them. The Theme: I would name the horn" "My Baby" After all, its mine, isn't it? We can configure it anyway we want to...can't we. The theme of my horns would be “My Baby” or Babies. Meaning more than one horn, eventually. Maybe twins, uh...two at a time. Their could even be a series of Horns falling under the Baby category. As a trumpeter/cornetist I prefer my trumpets to be bright, lead like and my cornets to be more blending, maybe even flugelhorn like in sound for small group, jazz work. I think instrument coloring is more important than braces shaped like initials, medallions, nuts and bolts, rockets, trucks or some NASCAR symbol. Braces should be functional or not there. “My Baby” should have the appropriate coloring. I imagine the valve block being iridescent white, the slides being powder blue and the bell from the first valve being pale pink morphing into red at the bell indicating a hot sound! The inside of the bell could be polished brass or colored, either. “Baby” would cover both sexes with the pale blue and pink coloring. “Baby” would be taken good care of with nurturing and easy handling. The only difference is I would be the only one growing and learning. Thank you for my new horn “Baby”. Remember, if you’re going to pray for rain, bring an umbrella. A Short Story: For the past several years a band appears at the older, Shepton Mall, in Oklahoma City, on NW 23rd St during the Holidays and plays for a couple of hours. The important thing about this band is the players are all older men and a woman. Every year they have arrived in an older, racing green Jaguar with a red ribbon tied to it, they are all dressed in suits and ties with overcoats, they use no music and play wonderfully. There are very few shoppers at this mall, only walkers and exercisers. Most of the stores have moved to other more popular malls. The offices close at 5:00pm so the mall is open for walkers until 9:00pm. They park on the West side of the mall. They enter around 6:00pm into the large, central area where most all walkers have to pass by and they play their music. The statesmanlike 4 string banjo player starts out with a slow version of “Just A Closer Walk”. Joining in is the attractive, lady clarinetist with her soft arpeggios and octave jumps sounding more like Bob Snyder than a local clarinetist. The trombonist slides into the second chorus with mellow sounds. The single, strap held, snare drum is rhythmically keeping everyone together while the trumpet brings the full sound altogether. These five musicians bring their insulated cups with their choices of liquids to drink, usually coffee. The crowd of people slowly began to gather around the musicians. The musicians stand in a circle and play to one another so they can hear and the crowd stands behind them as they play. The banjo player, dressed in a 3 piece suit, announces the next tune, counts 1,2,1234 and they play another Christmas tune for the crowd. After about 40 minutes or so they take a break and the crowd waits for their return. The almost reverent atmosphere while these musicians are playing is very unusual. There is no excessive talking, no hollering or wandering around. Just people enjoying good Christmas Music. However, during the 2002 Christmas season, there were some younger couples showing up with small children for this occasion. The small coffee shop stayed open for the music and the listeners had their hot coffee, hot chocolate and pretzels. The lady clarinetist asked the crowd to join in in singing “Silent Night” as the last tune of the evening and the crowd sang as though they were a choir with harmonies. They all exchanged pleasantries, thanks to one another and all left the Mall rather orderly. The plans were made for the 2003 season. Liz Humphreys , a local reporter, contacted the lady clarinetist, Ramona Patrick, a lawyer in Edmond, OK and asked her if the band would play this year and she said they planned on it. Patrick wouldn’t reveal her age, although she looks considerably younger than the men. The drummer’s name is Larry Snow, 65, a semi-retired professor of math. The trombonist’s name is Roger McGuckin, 64, a retired city planner from Oregon now living in Oklahoma City. The banjo player is 65 year old David Davenport, a studio musician and record producer. He is currently working with upcoming country singer, Elizabeth Cole. The 63 year old trumpet player, Jay Silverii, is a retired medical salesman and musician. He was a vocalist and trumpet player in the Grand Hotel house band in the 60’s and 70's. This group got started at a high school class reunion and have played together since 1994. They call themselves “Rebound”. They don’t know why they named themselves Rebound so they don’t have to explain it. The local media has been aware of this group and their music for over five years. The property management team at the Mall doesn’t seem to care as long as this tradition brings people to their mall. “The tradition will continue as long as people come to hear “, Patrick said. We don’t charge for our music but a man once threw a dollar bill in my clarinet case. Liz Humphreys reported this to be a very popular band in the area during the holiday season. Oklahoma City is proud to have caring people like these musicians. Why I feel I should win this Contest: My dedication to the last horn manufacturer has lasted almost forty years. I still have my original horn I played in college and in the bands for the next few years. From Selmer I have had a Flugelhorn, a cornet and my K Modified Trumpet. I have sold the flugelhorn and the cornet. I am ready to move on to a newer horn to keep up with my counterparts. I need a more open lead sound as I have a new gig this coming year. I am playing in two bands now and am adding one this holiday season. Jay Silverii of the Rebound Band has had major surgery and will not be able to play this season. The band has asked me to take his place while he recuperates. Jay suggested me and they all agreed. What is noteworthy is that all but the drummer play custom instruments. The banjo, hand inlaid sparkles, hand built and beautiful and the trombone are custom built to specs. My new Eclipse “Baby” powder blue, pink to red trumpet would be the talk of music society in Oklahoma City. They’ve never seen such a thing around these parts before. Best to you this coming year. Trumpeter Don Huddleston drhuddle@swbell.net ps I will post pictures of "Baby" as soon as it arrives. __________________ Don Selmer K Modified Trumpet .458 1960 Courtois "Buffet Crampon" Cornet .470 19?? King Legend 2220 Cornet, .462, gold plated, 2002 UMI 5DG