Originally Posted By dsnykid I play the trumpet and was the only girl throughout grade 6-12 to do so... I ,love it, and if you can master it you can do well on most of the other brass instruments as well... whiole I was in high school I had a very tight abdomen as playing often makes you focus on your core and your breathing and the muscles just build an insane amount. I hardly ever play now, but I still love it and can move my fingers on the table or whatever as though i was pressing down on the keys.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I played acoustic guitar from the 3rd grade through college. I was going to be the next Bonnie Raitt. LOL! I sometimes pick it up and strum but not much.
Originally Posted By disneydad109 I can't play trumpet but one time I think I saw a strumpet. I like my banjo {no one else does}
Originally Posted By Big Thunder I played trumpet in Jr high and continued to play for fun later on. One of my childhood friends comes from a long line of trumpet players. I remember his dad playing when I was very small. That friend and his cousins we all very musically inclined, most played many brass instruments. I think because they we so dedicated and talented, and when it came to my playing, that's who I compared myself to. In all honesty I couldn't hold a candle to any of them. So n retrospect I think I decided that I wasn't good at it, because I was comparing myself to some extraordinary musicians, they were in prestigious drum and bugle corps, won awards, etc. I also need to put things into perspective, i played basically as a hobby, they were dedicated, they practiced constantly whereas I only practiced once in a while, so of course I wasn't as good. Anyway, I gave it up. I will say it was fairly easy and fun to learn as a beginner. Overall, I say that if a 10 year old girl expresses an interest in playing Trumpet, then "go for it all the way" I know a female mariachi trumpet player and she plays amazingly. There is also a female trumpet player in the youth group at my church, she also plays pretty darn good.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Wow, thanks for all the responses guys! Sorry I haven't responded 'til now. I didn't mean to be rude and seem to ignore you. I just almost always forget to check the little box to be notified when messages get posted and then I couldn't find the thread. Thanks for all the support and encouragement though! I already shared the lip balm tip with DD and she is very grateful for that advice. (her lips got a teeny bit bloody the first day she practiced on her mouthpiece so she learned the importance of taking care of your lips REAL fast! LOL. Poor thing.) She is really enjoying the trumpet and her band teacher is just a great guy. I had a chance to catch a bit of a lesson he was doing with the percussion guys and with the brass section and I can say that the kids LOVE him and he is a GREAT teacher. I'm so happy for her. The other good thing is that because of the way our music programs work around here, he will be here teacher for the next four years. But how could you guys not warn me about the spit valve?!?! EWWWW!!! LOL! Parents had to attend two evening lessons with the kids so I was there when DD was introduced to the delights of draining her spit on the floor. You should have seen all the moms squirm in their chairs! LOL! I never thought I'd have to buy my daughter a spittoon but the germaphobe in me is serrrriously considering it.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling <<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 he thought he was gonna get off so easy only having to learn 3 notes! LOL. I don't know if I mentioned it before but DD takes piano too. At first I was a little concerned that she'd get overwhelmed at having to practice trumpet and piano but I think doing both will actually help her in the long run. What do you guys think?
Originally Posted By sarahwithbaloo Sorry I knew there was somthing icky I forgot to mention. The other is the smell of valve oil if it has not changed, it really lingers.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA My wife and I both played instruments. She the flute, and I trumpet. And interestingly enough my wife and I are both now considered 'singers.' I played trumpet starting around 5th grade [after a disastrous 2-3 months trying the flute], and played through Jr. High and into my Freshman year in the High School Marching Band and Concert Band. Got switched to Euphonium/Baritone as a Sophomore -- typically the 2nd or 3rd chair trumpet players get 'encouraged' to move to that instrument. On Baritone, marching band charts are written in Treble Clef, as it has the same fingerings as a Bb Trumpet -- so it's an easy transition once you get used to the larger mouthpiece. Also, the Baritone has the sound of a Trombone -- which marching bands always need more of. Senior year, was drum major, so didn't play as much that year. And in college, chose a Theater Arts major, started singing, and so playing kind trumpet got side-lined. Funny thing is when I'm learning new music, I still mime the fingerings on my trumpet. My experiences in high school marching band were fantastic. I was a band geek all the way, and it really was a great time. As for your daughter, chickendumpling -- if she's interested in the trumpet -- GO FOR IT! I think the flute is a tough instrument -- it's very precise, and requires a more delicate touch. When band became an option for my daughter in elementary school, she chose flute -- I'm sure because my wife played it. It just wasn't a good match for my daughter -- as she's a bit more...heavy handed, and I was trying to tell her trumpet or trombone or drums, but couldn't get any traction. She's lasted about 5 minutes on flute, and is not playing anything now. I'm a bit disappointed as I would have enjoyed getting involved in band again. But, our daughter is involved in theater, and enjoys singing. The good news is that we all got cast in a local Playhouse Merced production of 'Annie Get Your Gun' which starts rehearsal later this month. Yee-ha!
Originally Posted By chickendumpling That IS good news Jim in Merced CA. Congrats! What a wonderful thing to be able to do as a family. Very, very cool. And thanks for the encouragement. She is full on into it and really enjoying it. Practice has become more focused and I hope it will be the beginning of years of happy band twinkieness for her. (We lovingly called our "band geeks" band "twinkies" because of those tall, furry hats they had to wear.) I'll have to remember to let you guys know how the first program goes. I do wish I had played more seriously when I was younger. I played at the guitar (while Lisann was gonna be the next Bonnie Raitt, I was gonna be the next John Denver. lol) and the piano and I sang in choir and in the high school musical and stuff but I did it mostly by ear and just out right mimicry so I'm not as much help to her as I'd like to be when it comes to reading music. But, I support her and encourage her and make sure she has time to practice and she's got two great teachers to help her with the other important stuff like "notes" and that so I think she'll be A-OK.
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 My sister who is 16 started playing the Trumpet at the ripe old age of 4. The thing was literally bigger than she was. Anyways she still plays it today along with the sax, flute, clarinet, and a few more. So I guess it really got her started on her musical career. In band now she plays the trumpet and alto sax. I think she loves both equally. I guess the trumpet really god her started in her pursue of her passion, music.
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 Wow sorry too much Biochem homework has messed me brain up a little. Please ignore my repetitiveness.
