Guide to Coming Back to Trumpet After Years of Not Playing

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Clarence1948 New Member Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 2 Location: NORFOLK VA	Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 5:23 pm   Post subject: Getting back on the trumpet after forty+years not playing I began trumpet study in the sixth grade (1959), continued playing in the school band through the 10th grade, doing very well on the horn. Quit after my tenth high school year when I lost my upper teeth to gum disease. Spent the next forty some years raising a family and workin in variou occupations. Picked up the trumpet several times over the years, practiced for a short time, even played with a concert band in 1994 for short time. Semi-retired in mid2010, and started practicng the trumpet again in Nov. 2010. Hooked up with concert band, but not able to play well enough yet. Also was invited to join church orchestra. Took first lesson in early Feb this year, and was given exercises to practice in effort to rebuild chops. Got back in shape up to mid-C pretty fast. Workg now to regain upper notes. Tone quality not good above fourth line d. Looking forward to performing with band/orchestra on regular basis someday. Can get up to above fifth line F on a good day. Questions I have at this point are "Should I practice every day, or would I get best results practicing five days a week, three days a week? Space out practice sessions to every other day, five days a week, takng two days off? Realizing that I need to get my chops back in shape and wishing to avoid overdoing it to point that would hinder progress, what is usually the best frequency to practice? _________________ ComeBack Trumpeter; played in school band through sophmore year high school (1965); Didn't take up trumpet again seriously until Nov 2010. King Silvertone 1946 circa refurbished trumpet.
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cheiden Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8432 Location: Orange County, CA	Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 5:35 pm   Post subject: Welcome back! My take on this is that the number of days isn't the biggest factor. It's possible to overdo it in with short and infrequent sessions. It's also possible to play all day every day and never get much development out of it. But in all generality I'd recommend that if you can make the time you'd do well to have 2 or 3 short practices sessions most days. The goal should be to have a consistent regime, carefully executed. In practice try to never play until your chops get hurt or worn out. If at all possible try to get a baseline for your routine from a pro teacher, even if you only take 1 or 2 lessons, just to make sure your equipment is in good repair and that your routine is ideal for your current level of development. _________________ "I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't." Charles J Heiden/So Cal Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart
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Blue Trane Heavyweight Member Joined: 20 Dec 2009 Posts: 669 Location: USA	Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:05 pm   Post subject: I suggest playing some every day even if it's as little as ten minutes. Come back slow and steady. Have several short practice sessions each day. Don't play on tired chops. Take a break and come back to it. Focus on getting a good sound and don't be in a rush to play above the staff. Make the notes in the staff sound full, singing, air driven, effortless (or just less effort each day). Clarke #2, flexibility studies (lip slurs), legato tonguing, etc. Have fun. Good luck.
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spitvalve Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Mar 2002 Posts: 1858 Location: Little Elm, TX	Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:11 pm   Post subject: Check out The Comeback Trumpeter's Guide : http://abel.hive.no/ctg/ _________________ Bryan Fields ---------------- 1991 Bach LR180 ML 37S 1999 Getzen Eterna 700S 1979 Getzen Eterna 895S Flugelhorn 1969 Getzen Capri cornet Eastlake Benge piccolo trumpet
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Clarence1948 New Member Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 2 Location: NORFOLK VA	Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:11 pm   Post subject: Replies to my recent post regarding come back practice Thanks so much, guys. Really appreciate your input, and know that I will put it all to practice. Also printed out the "Comback Trumpeters Guide" that I will use as my practice guide. You all have been a big help, and deeply appreciate it. _________________ ComeBack Trumpeter; played in school band through sophmore year high school (1965); Didn't take up trumpet again seriously until Nov 2010. King Silvertone 1946 circa refurbished trumpet.
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WxJeff Heavyweight Member Joined: 10 Dec 2002 Posts: 2403 Location: Atlanta GA	Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 5:27 am   Post subject: Welcome to the party. Come hang out with us in the Comeback Players forum and keep us updated on your progress. It's amazing what hearing about other "mature" players' experiences, trials and victories does for the rest of us. It's the ultimate support group! _________________ Kanstul F Besson International 800 Bb Curry 3C. Olds Special Cornet ~1957
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bilboinsa Heavyweight Member Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 3378 Location: San Antonio, TX	Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:10 am   Post subject: Clarence: One of the most important aspects for me was, if it isn't FUN, then don't do it. Its easy to make practice FUN! Play old songs you used to know. Dig out old sheet music if you still have any. If you like certain music, check out the huge variety of play along CD's that are out there for all levels of trumpet playing. Welcome! _________________ Doug Walsdorf Schilke B2; Kanstul 1525; 1927 Conn 22B 1970 B&H Regent "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit...it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort." http://www.myspace.com/schilkeb2 Member: http://xeml.buglesacrossamerica.org/
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mrsemman Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Apr 2010 Posts: 808 Location: West Brookfield, MA	Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:14 am   Post subject: I agree with all the above. I am now a year into my comeback, and found a tremendous amount of great advice from these forums. The key is patience, which something most common with us oldsters. Do a few minutes of warm ups. I used the Walter Beeler books before graduating to Arban's. Rest as much as you play. Warm ups for a few minutes, then rest for a few minutes studying the music, practicing tempo, fingering the notes on the horn, etc. Then play some more. Believe me, if you follow a few simple rules, you will find that your chops will not only return, but that everything will be better. Some days will be better than others. Never quit. Never Surrender! _________________ Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flip Oakes C Trumpet Zeus Guarnerius Trumpet Zeus Guarnerius Flugelhorn Kanstul G Bugle Jin Boa Bass Trumpet
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dhasker Regular Member Joined: 12 Oct 2010 Posts: 76	Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:19 am   Post subject: Clarence I came back in September after 27 years away and took one day completely off every week for the first couple of months. I usually tried to have a long practice (resting as much as I play always) the day before my rest day. In the 51/2 months that I've been back I've taken three days off a couple of times and came back stronger than I did prior to the extended break both times. Each person is different, the general thought is to play every day, but dont' be afraid to take a small break every month or so to find what works for you. Once you get a base, I would go every day. Besides, I miss playing the trumpet on off days. _________________ Yamaha 8335RGS Monette B6
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The Kraken Veteran Member Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Posts: 391 Location: 805 Area Code	Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 7:36 am   Post subject: Welcome As a comback player myself after 36yrs, I say Welcome, I'm sure you will get great advice in these forums from various peeps, I know they have helped me. Seek out a teacher first and foremost if you can, practice and have fun. Let the sound be your guide!!! ENJOY!! _________________ 1948 Selmer Grand Prix-Model 23 US Air Force 1974 - 1980 Comback player start date: 9/06/2009 Comeback Player end date: Till Death Do Us Part
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HornnOOb Heavyweight Member Joined: 06 Jun 2010 Posts: 895 Location: East of the Sun & West of the Moon	Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:13 am   Post subject: Blue Trane wrote: I suggest playing some every day even if it's as little as ten minutes. Come back slow and steady. Have several short practice sessions each day. Don't play on tired chops. Take a break and come back to it. Focus on getting a good sound and don't be in a rush to play above the staff. Make the notes in the staff sound full, singing, air driven, effortless (or just less effort each day). Clarke #2, flexibility studies (lip slurs), legato tonguing, etc. Have fun. Good luck. Ditto! I'm 56 and just started playing 9 months ago. I would say take it easy and play a litle each day -- with an occassional day off. Play long tones and do MP buzzing exercises as part of your routine. DON"T OVER DO IT however. I did and my face almost exploded. There's pleanty of time and it will come to you. Again, I find that long tones and gettiing a good tone from the lower register is very important in the beginning. Just for encouragement purposes: After 9 months of practicing and some private instruction, I can now play all the notes up to D above high C and am playing in a community band. It's a lot of fun to be able to open a Fake book and blow-out a nice ballad or whatnot. Best of luck to you! _________________ I rode in on a horse and can't seem to get out of L.A. Severinsen Destino 3* 1971 Getzen Eterna 900S Severinsen Model 1984 Getzen Eterna 896 Flugelhorn 1951 Olds Special Cornet Denis Wick 1C Heavytop Getzen Flugel 3C
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Arbanator Veteran Member Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 115 Location: McLean VA	Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 4:49 am   Post subject: I set my trumpet down in 1966 and picked it back up in 2008. Since then, I�ve practiced most every day and have tried lots of different methods, generally for several months at a time � the Rubank method books, Arbans, Clarke, Claude Gordon, James Stamp, various etude books, a little Jamey Aebersold, and I�ve even tried the Cat Anderson method. I think each of these books, and their collective variety, has helped me a lot. But the three most useful things that I�ve done are probably (1) to get some private instruction (occasional, not every week), (2) to keep trying and practicing new things that I don�t get right immediately, (3) to buy and use a metronome. The teacher quickly identifies fundamental changes that I can make, adding new material that is a little beyond me forces me to develop new capabilities, and of course the metronome really helps develop speed and facility with the exercises that I practice. I also play in a community band and a brass band, and the exposure to other players and ensemble playing adds a lot to the enjoyment.
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Guide to Coming Back to Trumpet After Years of Not Playing

Source: https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1121712#:~:text=Have%20several%20short%20practice%20sessions,to%20play%20above%20the%20staff.

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