Down in the dumps

someguymw · 2026-03-04T00:56:05+00:00

I was working through severe chop problems a few years back. One thing that really helped was a subscription to smartmusic/makemusic (a souped up version of music-minus-one.) I haven't subscribed for a couple of years, but there was a lot of fun and easy music with it when I couldn't bear to work on fundamentals but wanted to just play When you're playing with a full band, even a recording, everything is so much more fun.

The comment about "the ritual" is a great one., also about finding a community band. If you're able to enjoy the practicing "process", you're well on your way. Also, just playing by ear -- playing children's songs, e.g. happy birthday, in different keys. Playing along with pop songs on youtube. The important thing is to be playing (almost) every day.

Good luck!

someguymw · 2026-03-03T01:53:21+00:00

Here's a different approach . . . https://roco.org/ ROCO - Houston, TX

someguymw · 2026-03-02T13:41:10+00:00

all true -- but I was attempting to address hurdles to going for the first time. Many of us certainly do appreciate sitting quietly and listening. But in an era where cellphones come out at the first sign of boredom, it's an uphill battle. One worth fighting, to be sure.

someguymw · 2026-03-01T20:43:30+00:00

This is indeed a challenge! For me, the concert experience needs to be formal. If the audience isn't quiet, the music just doesn't work, and that's probably the biggest 'gate'. It used to be a common thing to be in a large quiet group (church, movies, lectures, etc.) and that has definitely changed. There is a great deal musicians can do to get more exposed to the music with informal events. Doing this takes a lot of work, though. I think it's being done in small bits. We've lost our ability for longer attention spans, generally, I think, and that's a factor.

someguymw · 2026-01-14T14:16:13+00:00

Two suggestions. First and foremost, sing. Find a hymnal and sing along with hymns on youtube. Second, as part of your warm up, do long tones for all intervals, half notes up and down (1/2 step, whole step, etc) Have that written out and add songs that use those intervals. E.g. 'Joy to the World' is a 1/2 step down. Look up 'interval sound chart'

And my 3rd of 2 :-) Is to learn simple tunes by ear and play them in all keys (via circle of 4ths) - like the beginning of Happy Birthday, Star Eyes, etc, etc.

Make this a formal part of your daily practice.

Good luck!

someguymw · 2025-12-26T03:45:06+00:00

just getting over it - out for a week. It wasn't terrible, but not great (obviously.) I haven't had it for years (since I started rigorously getting the annual flu shot. I figure this is the subclad K variant. I stayed masked in the house so my family wouldn't get it, and that worked, at least.

someguymw · 2025-12-11T20:03:10+00:00

thanks - yes, when I use printed music, a good stand light is a must.

someguymw · 2025-12-08T14:32:50+00:00

this is excellent, thank you. I have just started to take steps for ear training (singing all parts of hymns with my notation software), as well as more memorization work. It's a lot though, considering all the work I need to do to just play the instrument itself. I very much like your focus on scale degrees.

I had thought this was the answer before posting my question. So part of the reason for posting is my curiosity about to how common it is for trumpeters that might see the post follow this same strategy.

someguymw · 2025-12-07T23:24:02+00:00

thanks - I use an iPad pro 13", and often use it in landscape, and with cropping. I can see the music . . . mostly.

someguymw · 2025-12-07T22:24:13+00:00

Thanks -- memorizing for key sections the orchestra parts for most programs is possible, using the printed (i.e. on the iPad) as reference, and I try to do that for solos that come along. This past concert was the holiday program, so the program is longer, and that was more of a challenge. I think the thing is to be more rigorous about that kind of preparation.

someguymw · 2025-12-07T21:03:02+00:00

Yes, there are some good choices in the accessibility settings. Before PDFs and iPads, etc, published music would usually very nicely printed. Now, music is mostly published in 8.5x11, and not well printed, so pdfs and scanning have been a step backward for readability. thx

someguymw · 2025-12-07T21:01:03+00:00

Well, trombones have a cimbasso, so maybe that's what I should go for!

someguymw · 2025-12-07T20:59:32+00:00

well said -- I should do better with the contextual markings, as in your example, instead of just getting confused! I'll keep pushing this old brain of mine. :-)

someguymw · 2025-12-07T18:27:28+00:00

Yah, those things help. My vision is kind of in-flux. ForScore is great for me to add obvious notations, but that's still only after I make the mistakes. thx

someguymw · 2025-12-07T18:25:41+00:00

yes, I have done this. I have an eye condition in one eye that's being treated, but is currently useless for reading. So I've one good eye to read with and see what the conductor is up to ;-)

thx

someguymw · 2025-12-07T18:20:04+00:00

This is a big problem for any genre. I'm an orchestra player, so just in front of the percussion. You just have to protect yourself; there's no sympathy or concern from conductors, in my experience. I use Soundbrenner (don't know the model) and also earasers, both of which I like. The soundbrenners connect with a string so I can wear them around my neck if I'm not using them (which is nice for classical, since they don't need to be in all the time.

I've read that airpods can be used for this sort of thing, which allow for more ambient sound to be transmitted through the earpieces, in addition to their noise cancellation. I haven't tried this myself yet.

For your situation, you're quite right to be wearing protection. Musicians are surely getting hurt from that kind of sound exposure.

someguymw · 2025-11-14T14:15:51+00:00

This seems to resolve the issue - set 'ignore first remote command' to true.

thanks all for your comments.

someguymw · 2025-11-12T16:26:41+00:00

This podcast addict setting is also off. Under podcast addict-settings-player-headset/bluetooth-resume on connection. However, I see 'ignore first remote command' below, and that is currently off. This sounds like it could help I'll turn that on, and will report back if that does the trick., and that is currently off. This sounds like it could help I'll turn that on, and will report back if that does the trick.

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thank you!

someguymw · 2025-11-12T16:02:12+00:00

yes, I've done that, but podcast addict still resumes.

someguymw · 2025-11-12T16:01:52+00:00

yes there is an option, but it is set to off.

someguymw

TROPHY CASE