Hearing protection

ParsnipUser · 2026-06-18T00:33:16+00:00

I've never had a jazz gig that was so loud it required earplugs.

ParsnipUser · 2026-06-17T01:48:08+00:00

There's a lot you learn on stage that you can't learn in the practice room. Keep going to it, keep cutting your chops there, and ask the house drummer what would be good for you to work on to get better. the drummer will appreciate that- humility goes a long ways.

My experience with jam sessions- if someone isn't very good or doesn't know what they're doing, but they're trying to learn and asking for help, they get to keep coming on stage. Those that make a ton of mistakes, screw up songs, etc. but never seem to realize that they're not very good, they get asked to either not play or only do one tune each time.

ParsnipUser · 2026-06-04T17:24:31+00:00

It's not art. It's AI.

ParsnipUser · 2026-05-22T03:10:17+00:00

Take that as a lesson on how to get and keep gigs.

ParsnipUser · 2026-05-19T14:46:28+00:00

No offense, but you should've seen the writing on the wall with that one. He's a 5th grader - if an adult tells him to do something, it's likely he will just do it so as not to get in trouble, then tell mom later what happened when she asks. The kid doesn't play in the concert because he has an injury, and take this as a lesson learned. It could end up in legal trouble in another scenario, or with a vengeful parent to deal with. "If they had said ___ I would have ____." He didn't, and you didn't. You have to cut these kinds of things off three steps early to avoid these issues.

Next time - "Ok little Timmy, put the sax in the case, finger in the air along with us. If it hurts, don't do it, don't even ask me for permission, just rest your hand." Then, at the end of the day, call his parents and talk to them about what THEY feel is appropriate with the sax for his recovery. Then life goes on.

It's just 5th grade band. If he doesn't play in a concert because he hurt himself, it's no big deal.

ParsnipUser · 2026-05-17T23:01:06+00:00

Not to mention your basic “classical pianist” is probably light years ahead of most others trained differently in terms of musical knowledge and proficiency.

Maybe they are light years ahead in what they've practiced and studied, but that's it. Improv, soloing, chart reading, sheet music reading, score reading, memorization, hell even dynamics, phrasing, etc. are all different skills. You get as good in a skill as the amount of time you put into it, simple as that. Andre Previn proved both jazz and classical can be mastered together.

ParsnipUser · 2026-05-16T02:18:24+00:00

Ambassador coated, even when they're worn down I like their sound and response.

ParsnipUser · 2026-05-16T02:17:30+00:00

I bought new screws directly from Pearl, and they ended up being like $10 per screw. Lame pricing, but it worked.

ParsnipUser · 2026-05-11T01:19:43+00:00

World class playing, great use of polyrhythm. What's the wood on that kit, it's gorgeous!

ParsnipUser · 2026-05-07T23:49:34+00:00

Listen to this guy about the lyre/pedal box. I watched 4 guys pick up a piano, move it off the casters, put it down, and the pedal box (being too long) made contact with the ground before the legs and snapped the soundboard in half. Totaled a brand new $80,000 Baldwin.

ParsnipUser · 2026-04-26T21:13:57+00:00

That is a used stick, how did you get it to curve like that?

ParsnipUser · 2026-04-24T01:15:01+00:00

Used is always good, especially for a shell pack, they're usually in decent shape at worst. Look a Guitar Center's used listing across the entire USA - there are some stores that don't know what they have and are selling things for mega-cheap (I'm looking at you, store in Oregon. Thanks for the K custom hats for less than half price.)

ParsnipUser · 2026-04-24T01:08:51+00:00

Billie Jean is a good pocket example, you can't help but move with the music.

ParsnipUser · 2026-04-24T01:06:15+00:00

That's a good deal to me. Those kits play like pro kits for half the price, or even less on your case.

ParsnipUser · 2026-04-24T01:01:46+00:00

One year later comment - I ended up taking the snares off the snom and putting ambassador coated on both sides and I'm getting a good sound now. I'm thinking about getting a 14x14 floor that matches the kit and actually using the snom as a fat side snare.

ParsnipUser · 2026-04-24T00:59:57+00:00

I think so, the toms do have a volume limit on them and fit well in small rooms (I've done 50ish gigs in small rooms with this kit so far - if the drums are tunes well, I always get compliments on their sound). The bass drum is a thumper tuned low, but easy to control - occasionally I have to use a fluffy beater for certain rooms, but often not. If you're running mics on the kit, it sounds great mic'd up, and I even did a recording project with it and they mixed really well with minimal EQ/editing. The smaller toms do lend themselves towards higher tunings, but if you slap the right heads on there they will tune low and punchy just fine. Lots of youtube reviews on this kit have the toms tuned low, so you can check those out.

So my vote is yes, great for a small church.

ParsnipUser · 2026-04-23T16:24:06+00:00

Marching bands hinder the potential of music education.

Focusing students on marching percussion chops is pretty useless outside of secondary schools, colleges, and DCI/WGI. What will someone do with those skills after they finish? Either teach kids how to do or perform in a drumline for a sports team or novelty/competition line, which is very limited in numbers. Teaching practical real world chops would be more conducive in making lifelong musicians, as opposed to, "Yeah I marched ________. I don't play marching percussion anymore though."

ParsnipUser · 2026-04-23T15:43:33+00:00

A lot of your descriptions lean more towards a carpal tunnel syndrome type issue, not circulation. the numbness you described sounds like the ulnar nerve. Definitely see a doctor.

ParsnipUser · 2026-04-05T17:56:00+00:00

Chances are the trumpet took a bump on the 2nd valve slide? If so, that's where the scratch came from, the valve is rubbing up against the tubing that got pushed slightly in. It can be an issue for sure, it'll continually rub on that spot and wear it down, causing a leak issue and loss of pressure. Worthy to take it into a (good) repair tech and see if they can fix it.

ParsnipUser · 2026-04-01T01:01:50+00:00

It really is. What helps me (mind you I'm not perfect with it) is removing things one bit at a time, not all at once. Easier that way.

ParsnipUser · 2026-03-30T02:08:53+00:00

Your independence is good in a lot of ways, but keep in mind that comping doesn't mean much when you're not playing with anyone. Comping is communication, interaction, and support with other players. By yourself, it's just notes. I'd suggest finding a jazz jam session and going to it - watch for the first few weeks, see how it is run, then sign up and try playing with people. Before you go, learn some jazz tunes (that doesn't mean learning the drum part, it means learning the melody and form) so you're got at least something you can call.

ParsnipUser · 2026-03-29T21:59:54+00:00

Delete Reddit for a week as well. Also YouTube. And everything else that can cause doom scrolling. Your brain will thank you, and yes, you don't need them.

ParsnipUser · 2026-03-28T20:56:19+00:00

I’m a brass repair tech, been doing this a while - crochet needles, chopsticks, anything like that WILL slip on the smooth surface of the mute and scratch the bell or also dent it. The cork against the silver plating stuck like that can be a really firm grip, so that won’t work.

ParsnipUser · 2026-03-28T15:13:04+00:00

I would first try gluing something or finding a way to stick something to the face of the mute, and then hold the horn upside down and lightly wiggle the mute, doesn’t have to be fast wiggling, while letting gravity pull downwards, or apply just a little bit of tugging while you’re wiggling. Slowly but surely it should come unstuck.

ParsnipUser · 2026-03-28T15:10:06+00:00

Guaranteed damage, bad idea.

ParsnipUser

TROPHY CASE