PiperJon

So, I have this old dog, she's a million years old. Literally. ONE MILLION. And she is definitely not in love with my renewed interest in the trumpet. It's not one of those subtle areas, she tries to cover her ears with her paws, and whines when I play. So, I've had to play in the few five minutes she will be outside before she bow-wow-wowz to come back in. Poor old girl!

I've made a Renuzit mute for now, until I can afford a "real" practice mute. (Apple Cinnamon, mmm!) And today I played for 15 minutes, 3 times longer than I have been, and she snoozed right through it. SCORE!

However, it doesn't sound like a quiet version of the trumpet, it sounds like a straight mute. Videos I've seen on YooToob and elsewhere sound like quiet trumpets! Now understand, 31 years ago when I played last, I only used a mute perhaps twice, just goofing around with it, so I don't know CRAP about mutes.

It does seem to have a significant back-pressure, which is not described in other writings about the Renuzit mute. I've done little different, other than I've NOT put the top plug into the bottom hole, its au naturel. And it does sound sharp, so I move the tuning slide about 1.5" more out, and it seems to fix that.

So, here are my questions:

1. Am I overblowing this thing? Is that the deal? It sounds pretty cool, so it's not like I'm complaining, but I don't want to screw up my lips while I re-learn, either. I still have the nether plug, should I utilize it? (and yes, it's drilled, about 1/4". That's how I found out it comes out...)

2. What about muted practice in general, will this lead to deficits later on? If so, what should I expect when I uncork my horn and play "for real?"

Right now, unmuted practice is not going to happen on any consistent basis, not only because of my ancient doggie, but because my neighbor is having a baby NEXT WEEK.

Nice to have the board back online!

Pj

Vulgano Brother

Put the dog down, and start praciticing without a mute now, before the baby is born. If babies before birth consider a sound "nromal" they can sleep trhough it without any problems.

Any sort of practise mute is a compromise, and can really compromise performing without one. Dog vs. trumpet? I'll choose the trumpet every time (and I like dogs more than cats.)

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missmybaby

Buy the dog a drum set. She'll give you as steady a beat as any human drummer could...

PiperJon

That's harsh, dude.


Only if the drum set can withstand a lot of drool... wait, what am I thinking, of COURSE they can, they're used by DRUMMERS.

Bah-DOOMP

Okee, I'll just keep messing with it. Thx.

Pj

Sturmbill

You might try changing the "stuffing" in your ReNuzit mute. I had to play around with a) the material used, and b) the amount. I finally hit on a formula that allows for reduced back-pressure and a reduced volume of sound. It still sounds like a muted trumpet, but then, that's what it is! I've used it in hotel rooms, my office and in the back room while the wife is working in the other room. Not bad for a buck!

Outside of my dog my trumpet is my best friend. Inside of my dog the sound is a little muffled. -adapted from Groucho Marx

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flugelgirl

My dog will sleep in the room while I practice, and actually makes friends with trumpet players faster because she hears them make the same noise I do - guess she must love me if she can deal with that! Save up for a Trumcor stealth mute - my favorite of all I've tried. In the mean time, spend $25-30 on a Brass Spa practice mute - they work great, too.

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PiperJon

@ Srturmbill: Hm, Ive thought of some kind of sound attenuation material, but I've not played around with any. I'm thinking cotton balls, since I have some at hand.

@ Flugelgirl: Yeah, my dog tends to like people who play the didge, since I've played that for so long. But with the trumpet hurting her old ears, I think other trumpet players would probably be met with sad eyes, at least. I am going to save up for a good practice mute, but that'll be a while, so I'm in "make do" mode. And after that, I'll save even longer for a flugelhorn! Looove them flugels!

Pj

Sturmbill

Yup, cotton balls are good, but you use tissue paper, toilet paper, pantyhose (don't ask!), just about anything that will absorb sound. Also, if you're following the YouTube instructions, DON"T leave the stem in! It is a whole different mute with that stem removed, and it will still function like a practice mute. Renuzit Mute

Like flugelgirl, I have moved on to a Trumcor Lyric Stealth, but I still grab the Renuzit when I need it.

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Vulgano Brother

I confess to being guilty of a tendency to shoot from the hip, and admit that this can come across as being harsh.

After I do my from-the-hip-shootings, I do double-check that no innocent bystanders were harmed. These checks take time, and after double-checking my response to your original post I surmise the following:

• You can’t practice because your dog is old.

• You can’t practice because your neighbors are expecting a baby soon.

• You can’t practice because your practice mute, made out of a desiccated air-freshener, doesn’t have the correct acoustical properties.

I dare posit the following: You want an excuse not to practice! If you want to play well you will need a space/venue with a volume exceeding that of the trumpet to play into. Parking garages, churches; whatever…if you can’t find a space bigger than your trumpet to play into then don’t even bother—give your trumpet to an underprivileged kid that will offend his dog; his neighbors and make some music.

Welcome to the dark side of TM!

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PiperJon

Powder burns on the hip, hm, you and I share similar afflictions.

And maybe it looked as though I was looking for an excuse not to practice, but what my intent was to seek problem-solving from those with more experience. I want to find a way TO practice, to enhance the "equipement" I have and can afford right now, rather than find excuses NOT to.

Your point about locating space big enough for the big noise is well taken, though. Fortunately, it's ever so portable, compared to other instruments I've played. And now that I'm getting my chops back FROM MY DAILY PRACTICE (see? nyahh!), I will be looking for some bigger barns to blow in.

For now, though, the cotton balls in the Renuzit seem to be doing the trick, and leaving the stem out. Oh, and it wasn't dessicated, I bought a brand new one and dumped the stinkum gel in an alternate container. Sacrifice!

Pj