Just before I began attending a Christian boarding school in 1966 my parents sent me to a band camp for a week, it was the first time I'd played my trumpet with other instruments. Even though I went to first chair my second year and made A's in both band and private lessons the lure of guitar got my attention for 20 years; 1968-1988 at which time I joined a community brass band that was formed in the mid 1860's. So, my come-back began 36 years ago. Thankfully nobody discouraged me along the way and I still have the ability/desire to play when needed. I really enjoy your videos, advice and ideas. Take care.
I really enjoyed listening to your trumpet journey, Garot. Thanks for sharing it as it made me think about my own journey. It began on "junk night sometime in the 1960s when I was a boy. I picked the garbage of a neighbor who had thrown a way an old WWII army bugle with mouthpiece. I took it into my garage and taught myself some bugle calls. I remember correctly; Taps was my first song. In elementary school, I decided on the trumpet and because of that bugle, I was a little more advanced than other kids. In middle school, the town I grew up in (Bergenfield NJ) had an advanced music program and offered Music Summer School. I met another kid, Dave, who was so much more advanced than I and my competitive nature took over and I would actually practice becoming better. I entered High School and immediately was placed in the marching band which was a fun time. At some point, I went to a parade and saw the Hawthorne Muchachos Drum & Bugle Corp and was mesmerized with the sound that they produced. I convinced my parents to let me join and a year later, I switched corps and played with the Bayonne Bridgemen touring all over the US and competing against other corps. When it was time to go to college, I was accepted at the Manhattan School of Music. Here's where our stories merge. I was taking private lessons from an old trumpeter who seemed to take pleasure in pointing out how I would never make it as a musician. After year two, I bailed and later entered law enforcement putting the horn down for the next 18 years. When my dad died, a Korean War era veteran, the funeral director played taps on a boom box hidden behind a tombstone. That didn't sit right with me. I dusted off the horn and literally started from scratch teaching myself how to play taps again where I could perform it at veterans' funerals in a dignified manner volunteering my talent to funeral directors for veterans' funerals so they could have a live bugler at their graveside. A few years later, I found an organization called Bugles Across America consisting of 5000+ buglers who volunteer to play taps a military funeral. To date, I have played hundreds of funerals and enjoy the feeling I get from giving back to those who served. One of the benefits was that I am now playing my trumpets and flugelhorn all the time for enjoyment and can honestly say I play much better today than ever before (with the exception of range which I lost a lot. I used to be a Maynard screecher Wanna-Be). Anyway, I always look forward to your new vids and enjoy, not only your playing skills, but your expressed thoughts as well. Keep up the great work and thank you so much for what you do for those of us who are still on our trumpet journeys! Tim
From just a lack of appropriate support, my trumpet journey as a kid was getting worse and worse till I quit at the age of 18 (after 9 years of good practice...) 4 years later I began to play the trombone, and this for more than 35 years now... Some strange circumstances impeded me to get to the next level of skills with the trombone and I was bashed by a music teacher who did nothing to improve the situation, and then, without knowing why, also by chance, I bought a flugelhorn last year, and now, I'm so glad I did... Thing is, I just bought a euphonium as well, and now, I'm playing trombone, flugelhorn and euphonium in more than 3 different bands... One year ago, I was just ready to quit music altogether...
I see that I am not at all alone in these disappointing circumstances. Having 3 grown children of my own now, and having been through them all going to school (obviously) I can see clearly that teachers, not all but most, are just people showing up for a job and a lot of them just suck as people, hence they suck as teachers.
@@GarotMichaelConklin After a nearly 30 year career as a chemist, after being fired at age 50, I teached chemistry and physics for 5 years... I think I wasn't a bad teacher and some pupils of mine told me afterward they regretted I quit, but I was nearly letting go my health if not my sanity teaching the way I did... So taxing to do it "the right way" of what I wanted it to be, and I think it is maybe a "system" thing that leads to force teachers to be the suckers they are... me think...
Quite a story -- thanks for sharing. I spent my school years just playing sports (treated badly by a coach in basketball once) with one failed attempt at guitar in 3rd grade (end of 60's). I tried guitar one more time but just always got frustrated. I was always a fan of Miles and Herb Alpert and then heard Chris Botti and decided to give the trumpet a go (9 years on now). Love playing and try to practice/play every day. Started playing keyboard 12 months ago and also enjoying that.
That's great... i have taken a multi-instrumentalist path as well, mostly due to necessity but in the end it has been pretty cool over the last 30-ish years, I have a lot of music "out there"
Woah you're from Buffalo?! Meee too. That storm we just had was crazy. Was that teacher you mention Mr Hathaway at Kenmore East?! We used to call him "Wrath of the Hath"! Russ Owens from St Joe's Highschool Band was my private trumpet teacher. He was great but kinda strict. I clicked on your video after looking up "comeback" player & Thomann Flugelhorn review. Hopefully we can talk later. 🎺
I live in Lockport now but yes we are in the same area.... it wasn't Mr. Hathaway but man, sounds like we have some real tyrants here in the area for music teachers lol
I need your helpful advice. I'm looking to get a trumpet after not playing for 10 years. I don't want to spend more than $1,000 (unless its a B&S Challenger). I've seen used Getzen's (300 for $600 & Capri for $800) at a local shop. Are Getzen valves really as good as some say?! I might even buy the Thomann Flugelhorn to mess around on. Any feedback? Thanks
Oh man! That's a rough story. Sorry to hear that happened to you as a kid! I think, especially, back when we were kids, adults tended to be a bit more gruff with kids than was necessary. In your case, that was very unfortunate. Glad you're back though and doing an awesome job as well! All the best. 👍
Thanks... I mean I am sure that I am perhaps more traumatized in my recollection than was really the case but in the end, even today, I would not consider that behavior the expectation from any teacher...
I can relate man. Back in the 80s, I had an absolute POS band director. I was a bit of a child prodigy at the time, something that he simply couldn't accept. He was in his late 50s at the time and used to being an anal-retentive authority for decades. There were many times when he didn't allow me to play in band rehearsals. He would say, "I don't need you today," and then hand me a pass to go sit in the library. When I complained to the superintendent of music for the school district, this just made things worse because they were friends. Horrible person. People definitely do suck. I'm sure he went off the hinges when I got into Juilliard, where I stayed for six years. As they say, success is the sweetest revenge. BTW, I'm not a brass player, but you sound like a natural to me. Regardless of your age or situation, simply keep going and aim for the highest standards. Just making small improvements each day will set you way above the baseline over time. BTW, I connected with some of the brass legends from the golden age of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (studied with one for breathing/physiology as related to playing). Herseth was just UNREAL.
This was such a heart felt, interesting video and thank you for sharing your story. I watch all of your videos and have always wondered about your music journey and how it all started. It's really sad that an authority figure and a supposed educator could of treated you that way. Can't imagine how you got through that at such a young age! Did your parents ever confront this person about the situation? Anyway, really appreciated this one, Garot!
Thanks so much, I think to some degree this was just what my life was all about as this has happened to me a lot over the years, people don't actually like me much in real life, I still haven't quit figured out why but that is the case... I know it probably appears that I am pretty happy in these videos, and I am in these moments, but nearly every other time I am quite miserable, sad, unhappy, unfulfilled, etc... not sure what my problem is
another great session! Many thanks!
Always great to hear from you :)
Just before I began attending a Christian boarding school in 1966 my parents sent me to a band camp for a week, it was the first time I'd played my trumpet with other instruments. Even though I went to first chair my second year and made A's in both band and private lessons the lure of guitar got my attention for 20 years; 1968-1988 at which time I joined a community brass band that was formed in the mid 1860's. So, my come-back began 36 years ago. Thankfully nobody discouraged me along the way and I still have the ability/desire to play when needed.
I really enjoy your videos, advice and ideas. Take care.
Thanks very much for the comment. I love seeing all the comeback players and hearing your great stories... I had no idea this was such a "thing" lol
I really enjoyed listening to your trumpet journey, Garot. Thanks for sharing it as it made me think about my own journey. It began on "junk night sometime in the 1960s when I was a boy. I picked the garbage of a neighbor who had thrown a way an old WWII army bugle with mouthpiece. I took it into my garage and taught myself some bugle calls. I remember correctly; Taps was my first song. In elementary school, I decided on the trumpet and because of that bugle, I was a little more advanced than other kids. In middle school, the town I grew up in (Bergenfield NJ) had an advanced music program and offered Music Summer School. I met another kid, Dave, who was so much more advanced than I and my competitive nature took over and I would actually practice becoming better. I entered High School and immediately was placed in the marching band which was a fun time. At some point, I went to a parade and saw the Hawthorne Muchachos Drum & Bugle Corp and was mesmerized with the sound that they produced. I convinced my parents to let me join and a year later, I switched corps and played with the Bayonne Bridgemen touring all over the US and competing against other corps. When it was time to go to college, I was accepted at the Manhattan School of Music. Here's where our stories merge. I was taking private lessons from an old trumpeter who seemed to take pleasure in pointing out how I would never make it as a musician. After year two, I bailed and later entered law enforcement putting the horn down for the next 18 years. When my dad died, a Korean War era veteran, the funeral director played taps on a boom box hidden behind a tombstone. That didn't sit right with me. I dusted off the horn and literally started from scratch teaching myself how to play taps again where I could perform it at veterans' funerals in a dignified manner volunteering my talent to funeral directors for veterans' funerals so they could have a live bugler at their graveside. A few years later, I found an organization called Bugles Across America consisting of 5000+ buglers who volunteer to play taps a military funeral. To date, I have played hundreds of funerals and enjoy the feeling I get from giving back to those who served. One of the benefits was that I am now playing my trumpets and flugelhorn all the time for enjoyment and can honestly say I play much better today than ever before (with the exception of range which I lost a lot. I used to be a Maynard screecher Wanna-Be).
Anyway, I always look forward to your new vids and enjoy, not only your playing skills, but your expressed thoughts as well. Keep up the great work and thank you so much for what you do for those of us who are still on our trumpet journeys!
Tim
From just a lack of appropriate support, my trumpet journey as a kid was getting worse and worse till I quit at the age of 18 (after 9 years of good practice...) 4 years later I began to play the trombone, and this for more than 35 years now...
Some strange circumstances impeded me to get to the next level of skills with the trombone and I was bashed by a music teacher who did nothing to improve the situation, and then, without knowing why, also by chance, I bought a flugelhorn last year, and now, I'm so glad I did...
Thing is, I just bought a euphonium as well, and now, I'm playing trombone, flugelhorn and euphonium in more than 3 different bands...
One year ago, I was just ready to quit music altogether...
I see that I am not at all alone in these disappointing circumstances. Having 3 grown children of my own now, and having been through them all going to school (obviously) I can see clearly that teachers, not all but most, are just people showing up for a job and a lot of them just suck as people, hence they suck as teachers.
@@GarotMichaelConklin
After a nearly 30 year career as a chemist, after being fired at age 50, I teached chemistry and physics for 5 years...
I think I wasn't a bad teacher and some pupils of mine told me afterward they regretted I quit, but I was nearly letting go my health if not my sanity teaching the way I did... So taxing to do it "the right way" of what I wanted it to be, and I think it is maybe a "system" thing that leads to force teachers to be the suckers they are... me think...
You have a great Chet Baker sound. It would be cool to hear you play one of his tunes, or at least the main melody line.
I can do that... do you have a thought other than "My Funny Valentine" lol that one is a bit "done" IMO, great tune though...
Quite a story -- thanks for sharing. I spent my school years just playing sports (treated badly by a coach in basketball once) with one failed attempt at guitar in 3rd grade (end of 60's). I tried guitar one more time but just always got frustrated. I was always a fan of Miles and Herb Alpert and then heard Chris Botti and decided to give the trumpet a go (9 years on now). Love playing and try to practice/play every day. Started playing keyboard 12 months ago and also enjoying that.
That's great... i have taken a multi-instrumentalist path as well, mostly due to necessity but in the end it has been pretty cool over the last 30-ish years, I have a lot of music "out there"
There he is!
I'm hard to miss... I'm pretty large !! lol
Hah. I just look forward to your genuine content. We're close in age and in our journey musically speaking. Plus bald and bearded!
Woah you're from Buffalo?! Meee too. That storm we just had was crazy. Was that teacher you mention Mr Hathaway at Kenmore East?! We used to call him "Wrath of the Hath"! Russ Owens from St Joe's Highschool Band was my private trumpet teacher. He was great but kinda strict. I clicked on your video after looking up "comeback" player & Thomann Flugelhorn review. Hopefully we can talk later. 🎺
I live in Lockport now but yes we are in the same area.... it wasn't Mr. Hathaway but man, sounds like we have some real tyrants here in the area for music teachers lol
I need your helpful advice. I'm looking to get a trumpet after not playing for 10 years. I don't want to spend more than $1,000 (unless its a B&S Challenger). I've seen used Getzen's (300 for $600 & Capri for $800) at a local shop. Are Getzen valves really as good as some say?! I might even buy the Thomann Flugelhorn to mess around on. Any feedback? Thanks
Oh man! That's a rough story. Sorry to hear that happened to you as a kid! I think, especially, back when we were kids, adults tended to be a bit more gruff with kids than was necessary. In your case, that was very unfortunate. Glad you're back though and doing an awesome job as well! All the best. 👍
Thanks... I mean I am sure that I am perhaps more traumatized in my recollection than was really the case but in the end, even today, I would not consider that behavior the expectation from any teacher...
@@GarotMichaelConklin - Agreed! Actions such as those you encountered, could literally change the course of a kids life!
I can relate man. Back in the 80s, I had an absolute POS band director. I was a bit of a child prodigy at the time, something that he simply couldn't accept. He was in his late 50s at the time and used to being an anal-retentive authority for decades. There were many times when he didn't allow me to play in band rehearsals. He would say, "I don't need you today," and then hand me a pass to go sit in the library. When I complained to the superintendent of music for the school district, this just made things worse because they were friends. Horrible person. People definitely do suck. I'm sure he went off the hinges when I got into Juilliard, where I stayed for six years. As they say, success is the sweetest revenge.
BTW, I'm not a brass player, but you sound like a natural to me. Regardless of your age or situation, simply keep going and aim for the highest standards. Just making small improvements each day will set you way above the baseline over time.
BTW, I connected with some of the brass legends from the golden age of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (studied with one for breathing/physiology as related to playing). Herseth was just UNREAL.
Awesome comment and great excerpt from your life as well, thanks for sharing !!
This was such a heart felt, interesting video and thank you for sharing your story. I watch all of your videos and have always wondered about your music journey and how it all started. It's really sad that an authority figure and a supposed educator could of treated you that way. Can't imagine how you got through that at such a young age! Did your parents ever confront this person about the situation? Anyway, really appreciated this one, Garot!
Thanks so much, I think to some degree this was just what my life was all about as this has happened to me a lot over the years, people don't actually like me much in real life, I still haven't quit figured out why but that is the case... I know it probably appears that I am pretty happy in these videos, and I am in these moments, but nearly every other time I am quite miserable, sad, unhappy, unfulfilled, etc... not sure what my problem is
..sweet no longer bad blue dude says it's himportante to let them see you fail,
#first notes of tofayxo
thanks for the comment but not sure I understand what you are saying here? :)
Luckily he didn't have a young duo of sisters playing flute or clarinet tgif