Hi,
I've posted a little and thought it's time I introduced myself.
I've been playing on and off (mostly on) for 26 years. I started in the 5th grade on an Olds Ambassador Cornet. I was lucky to be in a great band program. My band directors through High School gave me a very solid foundation. The only blotch was in 10th grade when I, my lesson teacher and band director got into a row over what mouthpiece I should be using. This probably explains my obsession with equipment.
In high school and college I vacillated back and forth over whether to have a career in music. I graduated with a BS in Molecular Biology in 1991 and then I pursued the idea of getting a second degree in music. I even won a small scholarship, but in the end didn't pursue it. At this time I was taking lessons from Gary Armstrong who is a member of the Nashville Symphony. I have to give him a lot of credit for the compliments I receive for my tone.
I worked a while in Nashville as a lab tech. When my father passed away in 1994 I moved back to Atlanta where I grew up. In 1996 I got back to playing regularly in some community bands and I took lessons for a time from John Head (former principal of the ASO). John helped me remove a lot of tension from my playing improving my sound even more. (although the tension comes and goes now) That combined with finding a really great playing Bb built on the foundation I got with Gary.
I decided I was very unhappy as a lab tech and went back to school in 1998 to get a master's in computer science. I graduated in 2000 just in time for the .com bust but luckily I got a job at a friend's company (been there ever since).
My playing today isn't where it was a couple of years ago but I'm starting to hear my old self again. On the personal front, I've been with my partner for 8 years and we live mostly contented with 2 cats.
Reid