Originally Posted By chickendumpling DD (10) has decided to join band. She's going to play the trumpet. Talk to me.
Originally Posted By friendofdd It can be a good instrument. Easy to learn the basics. Lots of practice before it starts sounding decent. Bands use more trumpets in school, so she will be wanted. They also play in the brass section of orchestras. Many youngsters start on them.
Originally Posted By knightnfrees <<Does anyone here play the trumpet?>> No, but if you hum a few bars...
Originally Posted By chickendumpling I guess it just never crossed my mind that she'd play the trumpet. I think it's one of those latent sexist stereotypes I have that I never knew I had. You know what I mean? I think I just assumed she'd play the flute or the clarinet or the french horn like every other girl I've ever known. Isn't that silly? Honestly, I don't know where I get these ideas sometimes! LOL. She's very excited about it. I'm taking her to get her instrument and book and assorted paraphernalia tomorrow. I have a feeling I'm about to get a big lesson in patience.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I have been known to play the fool! In all honesty, Sarah used to play when she was a teen, I'll get her to chime in. Funny, at school I dated cellists and flautists - never thought I'd marry a trumpet player. Could have been worse, could have been Tuba!
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP I guess we were sexist in my family, I played the clarinet and my sister the flute, while my brothers played the trumpet and the sax. We all took piano lessons. None of us are spectacular, but we all know a decent amount of music. As I recall the brother who played the trumpet picked it because he thought he'd only have to learn 3 notes, one for each of the keys, or what ever they're called on a trumpet. Of course it's not true, you learn all the notes the rest of the band/orchestra learns. And, from going to lots of elementary concerts I can tell you that the instrament with the steepest learning curve, by far, is the violin. The kids in the band start sounding good, or at least stop sounding painful LONG before the orchestra. I can't really pick the deeper strings out from the whole sound of the orchestra (basses and violas) but those violins sounded screatchy way into the 6th and even 7th grade orchestra while the band could produce something listenable by the end of 5th grade.
Originally Posted By Mr X Here's a sad story on the sexism thing... I was a music major in college (percussion, which I love and it's my passion)...anyway there was another percussion major there. He wasn't all that great, and worse he didn't care too much for percussion. When I asked him about it he told me "well I always loved the flute and wanted to play it, but I was afraid of getting beat up in school". Kind of an "lol", but on the other hand...a sad state of events. There have been fantastic musicians of both sexes on ALL instruments over the years. In fact, the two finest percussionists I know (one famous, one not) are both women. I've heard some wonderful female trumpet playing, and tuba playing etc...same for men on the "feminine" instruments. If she LIKES it, that's the most important thing. After that, it's just important to have positive, great teachers and a willingness to commit to learning the instrument. Good luck to your daughter, CD! (one point for ANY parents of 10 year olds looking into brass instruments...the childs mouth is not yet fully formed and developed so it's important to find a teacher that understands that...too much too soon can be very harmful to the young musician! and especially if she is quite adept and has a driven teacher that wants to expand "range" too soon...that will come IN TIME but not at age 10...that is the age to have fun with it and learn the basics very adeptly).
Originally Posted By Mr X >>And, from going to lots of elementary concerts I can tell you that the instrament with the steepest learning curve, by far, is the violin. The kids in the band start sounding good, or at least stop sounding painful LONG before the orchestra. I can't really pick the deeper strings out from the whole sound of the orchestra (basses and violas) but those violins sounded screatchy way into the 6th and even 7th grade orchestra<< Actually Mrs. P, the violin has a fairly easy "curve" in the sense that you can get to "acceptable" pretty quick (the trumpet is much harder, really)... What you are noticing though, is the fact that the higher pitched instruments (violin, flute, oboe) are very nasty on the ears if played out of tune. Trust me, they are ALL playing out of tune, most likely...you are just noticing the higher pitches much more (thus your comments about the lower strings being "not so bad").
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I played trumpet until college. It ain't the easiest instrument but it ain't the hardest either. I became pretty decent on it. But, I pulled it out of the closet a year or so ago and couldn't play 4 notes to save my life. Getting the "umbushure" (I'm sure I butchered that spelling) down with the lips takes some training.
Originally Posted By Mr X Maybe "embousure", wahoo? (I tried to look it up, but google has failed me, even wiki has nothing!) I would say that there is no "easiest" or "hardest" instrument...different people take to different forms of expression, and luckily in music there are a lot of choices! I love to play some drums, and with sticks (mallets, really) I love to express my tonal music with marimba or vibes or whatever...others are attracted to the trumpet for sound or whatever, or strings, or voice... Music has something for everyone.
Originally Posted By Mr X By they way, I know the "guiness book" probably has "most difficult" or "least difficult" instruments or whatever..I personally don't buy it. Some may be challenging to person a, b, and c...but person D takes to is like a duck to water. That's what music, and instruments, are like.
Originally Posted By sarahwithbaloo Ok so as Dave said I played Tumpet from 10 till I was about 16. 2 words when starting out. LIP BALM not when actually playing but in between times keep them in good condition.
Originally Posted By Mary Poppins It's "embouchure." My son is studying trumpet privately and plays in the High School Band. They have yet to have their first concert so I won't know how many girls are in the trumpet section till then. He has been learning guitar for much longer and is into metal.
Originally Posted By friendofdd My DW and eldest DD played trumpet. M-I-L played trombone. I started on trumpet but moved on to french horn and, later, tuba.
Originally Posted By Mr X Thanks Mary! I knew it was some frenchy sounding spelling. DD, I didn't know you played! Cool! Technically, I played all three of those instruments as well...though trumpet was just a technical class in college (WONDERFUL professor, I had a lot of fun), tuba was in my jr. high band, and I don't know how the heck I ended up on the horn but I did play that for a couple of years as well. None too good though (I was pretty okay at tuba for my age though).
Originally Posted By peeaanuut I played sax in the 6th grade. But now sadly, i cant play any instruments. I want to learn the base, that would be kind of cool.
