[TPIN] How does one hang in there when really, really discouraged?

[smatt401 at dotnet.com]

How does one hang in there and keep playing trumpet, even when really, really 
discouraged?

This has been a bad week trumpet-playing-wise and I'm looking for a little encouragement. 
I lost my gig on S-nday. I had intended to play "Taps" in the ch-rch I hold a position in but 
was informed by the head de-con that my trumpet playing was too loud. So, I sadly put my 
bugle in the trunk. No "Taps" on the bugle that day, no more trumpet playing any day.

The next day I played "Taps" at 3:00 PM, as recommended by the Bugles Across Am-r-ca 
site. It suggested we write to Getzen, which produces field trumpets with the BAA logo, and 
tell them about playing taps. Some TPIN'ers asked about trumpeters playing "Taps" so I cut 
and pasted my e-mail to Getzen. Bad idea--I've been flamed by other trumpet players from 
thousands of miles away. Ouch. I was just answering someone else's posting about playing 
the bugle for taps. Contrary to popular opinion even trumpet players have feelings buried 
somewhere in the braggadocio and arrogance.

I'd like to hang it up . . . but I've been playing trumpet (badly, I'll admit) since 1963 and it's 
a part of me, a part of me that's really hurting, however. It's really hard to practice the 
trumpet/flugelhorn/bugle right now, without any opportunities to perform with other 
musicians, without encouragement . . .  

So, how does one hang in there and keep playing trumpet, even when really, really 
discouraged?

S.M.M.