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

[Rob Jonas]

William, very good points. After college, I laid off for a year, and was 
approached one day, by an old musician friend of mine, about signing up with 
the Richland College Thursday Night Jazz Band, here in Dallas , TX.(this was 
in 1990) The leader was another old friend. i was VERY discouraged for many 
years , as I thought I would never get my lead chops back. I was struggling 
just to play a high D above the staff!I wanted to quit on more than one 
occasion, but was lucky that I had the encouragement to continue. I still 
play in that group, as well as lead in the Dallas Christian Jazz Band, and 
lead in a group I help get started, Swingtime 2000. Most the time we just 
rehearse, as Dallas is not the Jazz Mecca for paid gigs, but at least I'm 
keeping my chops up, as well as my reading.

S.M.M...just keep plugging along and listen to your heart as well as the 
positive feedback. Use the negative comments to your advantage. I hate it 
when somebody tells me I can't do something, so keep your chin up and we are 
all behind you.

Best regards,

Rob Jonas


>From: "William Graham" <weg9 at comcast.net>
>To: <smatt401 at dotnet.com>, <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
>Subject: Re: [TPIN] How does one hang in there when really, really 
>discouraged?
>Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 21:03:41 -0700
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: <smatt401 at dotnet.com>
>To: <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
>Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 7:57 PM
>Subject: [TPIN] How does one hang in there when really, really discouraged?
>
>
>>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.
>
>For starters, do not screw around with people who tell you, "Your trumpet 
>playing is too loud, so you can't do it anymore." - Find people who 
>appreciate your playing, and play for them, as well as for yourself. I 
>joined a community concert band. The band organized a spin-off jazz group, 
>which I also joined. Now, I get to play as much as I want. There are other 
>bands in my area that I could join if I wanted to play even more, but there 
>is only so much time in the week, so I'll just keep those waiting in the 
>wings in case I'll ever need them.
>    The world is full of people who do not like me or my playing. I could 
>care less. There are just as many other people who do like me and my 
>playing, and there is not enough time in the day for me to play for all 
>these latter types....Why should I mess around with the former types?
>
>
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