tatakata

Andrew, reading through your bio I notice your career started with smaller orchestras and progressed to big time groups with San Fran and 1st trumpet in Toronto

As you made your way up the ranks what was the biggest difference besides the pay check?

Would you sit down in these groups and think.... wow this sounds remarkably better. were the differences subtle or huge and where do you hear them most. did you ever feel like you would have to step up your own playing when you first got into the bigger groups?

amtrpt

Tatakata,
Thanks for the question. I noticed when i looked at my bio just now that I forgotten to add principal trumpet of the Dallas Symphony to it. I'm not sure what that means. Probably just old age.

To answer you question. I can remember moving to San Francisco and driving by the hall a few days before the first rehearsal. If I could I would have driven back to Buffalo, I was that scared.
The reality was that it was a different level and the pay was better, but I was still the same player that they hired and that hadn't changed. I've often expected to wake up after winning a job and be a better player only to realize that I still had the same problems. So yes I felt the need to step up my game and work harder, however if you are good enough to get the job then you have at the least the potential to perform it well.

Thanks again for the question.

Best,
Andrew

tatakata

thanks for the answer Andrew! did you drive all the way from Buffalo to San Fran

amtrpt

As a matter of fact I did. At the time I had a Saturn Sports car that didn't have much room and as it turned out was not very comfortable for long drives. It all worked out in the end though.
Andrew

Tiscione

So that begs the question - what kind of car are you driving nowadays????

Vulgano Brother

My experience has been that the better the group, the easier it is to play; with an orchestra that doesn't have much in the way of intonation issues or rhythm issues it is very easy to drop the notes in the right places. Leading a full orchestra from the principal chair is hard work, but folks will follow (the trumpet is a commanding instrument, by the way); it is much more fun playing chamber music with 50 or so other folks.

amtrpt

I am currently driving a 1972 Chevy Malibu and I love it.
A.

MJ

A 72 Malibu? Let's see some pictures

nplotts1

1972 Malibu; I drive a '97. Wanna trade?

(sorry, this has nothing to do with OP)

amtrpt

I don't have any pictures and I can't take any right now because it's in the shop. The muffler fell off a few days ago and they are going to fix it as soon as my post dated check is good. It's tough because I've been riding my bike here in Toronto and there is a lot of snow. I'll try to get that picture up soon.
Andrew

ps. Tiscione, there is no need to beg for information about my car, you can just ask next time.