@stumac said in A real OLD comebacker here:

I will be 81 at the end of this month, I feel young compared to a flute player in our Orchestra who is 90 and a visitor to the Big Band a couple of weeks ago, a Clarinet and saxophone player still blowing at 98.

Regards, Stuart.

@stumac said in A real OLD comebacker here:

I will be 81 at the end of this month, I feel young compared to a flute player in our Orchestra who is 90 and a visitor to the Big Band a couple of weeks ago, a Clarinet and saxophone player still blowing at 98.

Regards, Stuart.

Yeah there is a 95 year old chap playing violin for the local classical music orchestra. But no one older than me in the two local bands I have or am playing in.

@JorgePD said in Comeback at just the right time!:

@Three-Sevens
Mike great to read your story. I packed up my horn in 1978, with every intention of playing again. I never thought it would take me 40 years to do so. I’m 62 and a few years away from retirement, but my kids are grown and now have some free time. I guess too much free time, a little over a year ago my wife told me I needed to get a hobby! So out came the trumpet. Since then I’ve been practicing on my own about 1 ½ hours almost every day. I’m playing in our local community band that has a great group of musicians (ages 12 to 90!). And two months ago I started taking lessons from a great trumpet teacher. I couldn’t be happier to be back on the trumpet!

Looking forward to being a part of this forum.
Jorge

In my first year back at the age of 80 and after a 50 year hiatus I joined the local Horizons. Now , three years later I am playing with a larger and very busy Brass and Reed orchestra. Playing with others is really important.

@Peter-Mac said in My journey starts here . . . .:

@Doodlin My advice is to play "Taps" as part of your warm-up each day. It takes you through the Open Notes, and will help build your range and flexibility a lot quicker. Enjoy yourself, and keep it fun.

...and the tune can be played on all valve combinations

Damn! I concede;)

@Tobylou8

They were a great help to me. Thanks.

@adc said in Clarke’s Technical Studies Redux:

has anyone here used Saint Jacomes? I have done some. My music teacher I don't think uses it so I don't do much of it.

You can get a copy in PDF for free off the intreret and judge for yourself.

@ROWUK said in Fast Tempo and old farts:

@GeorgeB For things at the limit of what I can play (recently 1st trumpet in the orchestra version of Rimsky-Korsakovs Scheherezade), my standard take is to completely memorize the difficult licks. Once I have freed up my eyes, they do not slow my fingers or tongue down any more! 😉

This thing about memorizing difficult licks worked for me on Liberty Bell and now I am using it effectively for other pieces as well. Thanks for that tip, Rowuk.

This reminds me of books my old mentor, Bill Pfund, used to write.

Correction on the picture I posted : when a print was made from the negative, the neg was flipped. I incorrectly look like a left handed player. This next picture was printed correctly: IMG_20140921_0002_NEW.jpg

It's probably that forward movement of the chops, but using the poo attack just seems to bring every thing together for me. Whether it is pure breath POO or a soft tongued TOO, the poo sets me up properly.

UPDATE

Just want to let you all know that last night during the 20 minute break from practice, I went to my car in the parking lot, sat in the back seat and played a variety of easy exercises that included long tones, lip slurs and some scales including chromatic scales. I took a good rest between each exercise and figure I played about 12 or 13 minutes of the 20 minute break. When practice resumed I played the remaining 40 minutes of practice without any embouchure problems.
I guess not playing for 20 minutes was encouraging edema. I don't know, but I do know I will be continuing to play during the breaks from now on.

@dr-go said in Played high school trumpet:

What I most loved about high school band... is dating clarinet players. That's what REALLY developed my embouchure.

Yeah. I married one 🙂

@j-jericho
Yeah, really sweet. Why do children play better than some adults ? Just look at this little girl's lips and how the mouthpiece is just barely making a seal. It's all about relaxation. Most kids are loose as a goose when they play.

@eatontkd

Welcome back, sir, from an old goat who started up again after a 50 year hiatus.
I have 1962 Conn Victor 5A in my collection of horns. Large bore .485 and beautiful sound.

My neighbors are very kind and look ward to the summer months when I play on my back deck in the afternoons. So I guess I'm not doing too badly.

@butcha

Great to see and hear that you are alive and kicking, Butch. When I made my comeback in 2016 after a 50 year hiatus there was one big difference, I was now, at age 79, sporting a full upper denture and a partial lower denture. It was like learning to play all over again, but it can be done. You have the determination and the love for music that is needed so I have no doubts whatever that you will be playing well long before you think.
George

Who Dey doesn't want to improve their intonation.

I start my warm up with low note buzzing by removing the tuning slide and blowing low notes using breath attacks. Using a larger mp during this initial exercise can also be helpful. Replace tuning slide and play Clark #1 very slowly - equivalent to long tones.