Stuart in Oz

Hi All!

My 'intro' post at Trumpetmaster!

I'm nearly 30, a very happy amateur player. Started way back in primary school (elementary school in US parlance) and have been doing it ever since. Had the last five years away from music (job and all that stuff) but I'm getting back into it now that I work for myself.

Jazz - big band, small groups, it's all good. Did lots of concert and brass band stuff at school in the few years afterwards. I'd love to do more orchestral playing but it ain't always easy to find an orchestra!

A friend of mine pointed me to Trumpetmaster when I mentioned to him that I needed a new horn.

And that's it - that's me!

camelbrass

G'day.

Regards,


Trevor

tedh1951

G'day Stu,
Glad you decided to have a look. There is lots of fine advice here, some very amusing pieces, a couple of participants who should perhaps have a new white suit with long sleeves and even longer leather straps, but on the whole - an interesting mob to talk with, and many avenues for discussion. For the rest of you, Stuart is a fine trumpeter who fills in on Eb tuba in our concet band and transposes mentally whilst marching - and he doesn't even look like he's trying.

camelbrass

Hey Stu,

I'm an ex-BBb player who got sick and tired of carrying 25lb of tubing around as a kid (ANZAC day was the longest day of my life) and took up the trumpet later in life. Also a Sydney boy.

Regards,


Trevor

tedh1951

Trevor,

Stuart and I both play for ANZAC Day. This year - 4 gigs in a row.
1. Post dawn march to a dawn service of remembrance - a couple of march pieces, a couple of hymns, and the National Anthem, and a return march, with music.
2. A second similar performance about an hour later in the next suburb - with a couple of longer marches - paced for the marching capability of the veterans we are there to honour (Aussie spelling) - the Veterans then put on breakfast for a 35 piece band.
3. A third, again similar performance another hour and a half later, and another couple of suburbs away, and
4. Finally a "sit-down" Diggers (Aussie Veterans) Breakfast with Stage Band accompaniment - with 1940's style swing and jazz arrangements - here Stuart slips on his Trumpet face and discards the tuba - me, well I'm just a one instrument man (low on the musical totem pole) - I get to play with my mates, and both my sons, one on Souzaphone (Bb Tuba for the sit down) and the other on Trom.
ANZAC Day goes past so fast for me that seemingly the first time I pause for breath - it's "beer o'clock" - I get such a buzz from these performances that even after a couple of beers and some hours, I still can't settle. A truly magical day.

camelbrass

Sounds like my ANZAC days when playing in brass bands.

Dawn Service at Miranda RSL, a bit of breakfast then all in the cars to rendevous at St Mary's Cathedral. Off to Hyde Park for the marshalling then head off down McQuarie St, down Martin Place (before it was a pedestrian plaza), past the Cenotaph, turn left up George St all the way past Town Hall, turn left then back to Hyde Park. Catch a few breaths then march back down to the Cenotaph for wreaths and the last post etc.

I was too young for beer o'clock but it was great watching the old diggers playing two-up, having a beer and reminiscing. This was in the early 70s, some Vietnam vets, lots of WWII vets but there was also a few WWI vets about still. Hard old buggers and they used march around the whole course. It was an honour just to be on the same street as them.

Regards,


Trevor

stchasking

The International Trumpet Guild Conference will be held in Sydney, AU in 2010.
You are expected to attend and buy us beer.

tedh1951

Hmmm, I've seen this request before (Thinks: - I wonder if they all know that Aussie beer is full of vitamins and minerals, Vitamin B, a double dose of Vitamin E, and a splash of Mineral R. I wonder if they know it's not like English beer, and is served icy cold accompanied by a hot meat pie. English beer is served at room temperature with a cold pork pie - yuk).

camelbrass

Those of you planning to go to Sydney should read and familiarise yourselves with these rules. It may get ugly if you don't:

Australian Beer Etiquette

Aussies are generally very welcoming, warm, hostpitable people.However, there are limits!!


Regards,


Trevor

PS Please also allow for the fact that this has been written by a Victorian. He was obviosuly born there so it's not entirely his fault. Toohey's is a perfectly acceptable beer and schooners (15 fl oz.. 3/4 of a pint) are the preferred measure in Sydney.

tedh1951

Amen. (Be warned - these are only the basics - Sydney rules are quite complex, but if you are willing to participate, then Aussies will be only to pleased to educate you on the spot - careful, an Aussie sense of humour is something to be reckoned with, and is not easily understood - and we DO NOT have any sort of accent).

1st additional rule: You can't eat on an empty stomach.