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

[John's Mail]

S.M.M,

You shouldn't hang up the horn just because you had a few "bad days", if
that was the case, we would have the Docs, Wyntons, Maynards, Phil Ds, Phil
Smiths, in the world because everyone one of them has had "bad days".  So if
these cats can have em', I don't worry too much about me blowing a solo or
having a bad week!  I love the quote from Wynton "it's not brain surgery and
nobody dies if you mess up!"  So pick yourself up...dust yourself off...and
start all over again!  Keep on playing Man!

John (Coop!) Cooper
Tulsa, OK

 -- Original Message -----
From: <smatt401 at dotnet.com>
To: <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 10:57 PM


* Snip
*
> 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.