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You are probably wondering where I have been, and why there haven’t been any posts? Or perhaps you aren’t, and that statement is just a form of self-aggrandizement. Either way, the truth remains: I haven’t posted in a while.
It has been an extremely busy couple of weeks, but the truth is, I could have been posting here if I had been determined. So why haven’t I? I suppose it comes down to a lack of inspiration. Writing has always come in spurts for me, and it turns out that this type of writing is no exception. This time, however, I think the fact that I haven’t been writing comes from a lack of desire to write about the trumpet. To me the trumpet is a means not an end, and quite honestly, I lose interest from time to time. That doesn’t mean I don’t love playing the trumpet, because I do, and I have been doing a great deal of practicing getting ready for a recital I am playing in two weeks.
As I write this, though, I don’t recall any great player talking about getting tired of playing the trumpet. Perhaps they do, but it seems like there is almost something dirty in discussing the fact that sometimes you don’t want just don’t want to face the instrument, or at least don’t want to talk about it. It is as if it is some big secret we are trying to keep; we can’t afford to let anybody know that sometimes playing the trumpet isn’t fun, if we do, nobody will want to do it. Maybe this is only me. Maybe I am the only trumpet player that doesn’t wake up every morning frothing at the mouth to cram a hunk of metal up to my face, but somehow I doubt it. If that is the case, oh well. I do love to play, and there are many mornings when I really look forward to playing, but mostly I look forward to making music. That is what gets me out of the bed each day. That is what makes me face all the mundane drills on a daily basis. If you took the music away — the real music, the sounds we make that are miraculously some form of expression — then I would probably never buzz another note. I would sell my trumpets and find some other form of expression.
Maybe this makes me less of a trumpet player, less of a force in the trumpet community. I can live with that. I just want to make music that somehow means something, and thus far, the trumpet has been my favorite and most effective tool to do so. So, I wake up every day and cram that hunk of metal up to my face, not because I can’t think of anything better to do, but because I want to make the best music I possibly can. And I honestly can’t think of anything better than that.
Thanks for your post– I enjoyed reading that even you do not live solely to play the trumpet! What’s going on with LivMusic News? Will you be writing more articles? I am an interested subscriber.
Thanks.
It is one of the most deep thoughts I’ve heard lately. It reminds a mantra that my trumpet teacher said to me. “Technique is a means to make music”.-
Gus
haha im glad you posted this
i have “quit” countless times since i began playing 10-11 years ago
thought i was a bad tpt player that way…perhaps not
makes me feel worlds better that guys like you lose interest from time to time too
trumpetgirl,
I think it is only natural for a person’s motivation to fluctuate up and down regarding any activity, especially something that you do 3-4 hours a day, every day. That being said, it also takes a good deal of discipline to work through those periods when you need to. For example, if you have an audition coming up, you simply don’t have the option of having any motivational issue. If you do, you won’t be getting the result that you desire. In the end, don’t worry about those motivational lapses unless you need to play something important coming up, and yes, they are completely normal!
Gus,
That is a great mantra, and it is one I absolutely share.
Thanks to both of you for the comments.
Craig
I tend to practice for results not hours.
I love the trumpet! In seventh grade I took up the trombone because they needed trombones. It
was free. My folks would not give me trumpet lessons because my orthedontist said “NO!” He said
clarinet was “OK”. I said, “no way!” Trombone? Eh… close enough.
For 35 years I played ‘bone but still longed to play trumpet. My approach was such that several
people could hear this.
In 1998 I had major heart surgery. In ‘99 I devorced my wife and relocated.
In 2001, with a new home, honey and good health, it was time for a new horn! Was my cardiologist
happy with this? NO! Did I care? HELL NO!!
I now play in several bands, concert, dixie, bop and big band lead. I am a student of the instrument, constantly improving and will play this horn even if it kills me!!
Alot of ‘old guys’ play golf. I play trumpet… and love it!
Robert,
Realise your dreams – at least you’ll die happy!
This writing really hits home for me. Thanks for posting it, your candidness is refreshing. Throughout my career I haven’t heard many of the greats address this topic. It seems taboo to express a desire that exists less than 24-7. I can’t remember where I heard this saying first and I’m sure you’ve heard it as well, “the days I don’t WANT TO practice are the only days I HAVE TO practice”. I can’t remember the exact wording but the idea gets me through the difficult periods. Thanks again for that!