[TPIN] Re: TPIN Digest, Vol 16, Issue 3

[John J. Enloe]

Message: 30
Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2006 21:57:44 -0500
From: smatt401 at dotnet.com
Subject: [TPIN] How does one hang in there when really, really
	discouraged?
To: tpin at tpin.okcu.edu
Message-ID: <447F62D8.11898.37FC15A at localhost>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

I'm a 48 year old High School band director with two little kids (8 and 5) a new puppy last week (Black Lab female-8 weeks old).  Wow do I want to stop playing? I don't know, I have might if I had the time to think about it.  I play in a band (British Brass Band for 20 years) I play at church when asked.  If your church will not let you play, find another one.  Small ensembles are really popular in churches now a days. I play weddings when asked.  I play big band gigs when asked.  But sometimes that's two years apart!  I try to keep my self looking for new things to do, people to hear (Vince Dimartino last Sat in Cary).  I've got Rich's Bopping book to do, I'm taking lessons and practicing when I can-boy that f transposition is still hard!  Goldman studies are great!  I've transposed these for my band and wow, they love them!  A. Lincoln said, "Most folks are about as happy as they set out to be." So be happy you can still play.  Take a lesson with the best teacher in town.  Go to one of the great teachers here on TPIN and take a lesson. Go to a concert.  Go to ITG convention. Go to the National Trumpet Competition in March in DC.  Go to the music store in town and talk to the repair guy or gal.  Go find some stuff and practice! Find some to play duets with.  Where is  the area community band?  Find the stuff that will make you want to play the 7 bugles everyday.  Inspire yourself!  Learn some Jazz.  Buy a piccolo trumpet and learn to play it.  Practice Toot Suite.  Go looking for old horns at yard sales and flea markets. Read the trumpet herald and trumpet master web sites.  Go the ITG web site and see where it will take you.  As Jimmy V said, "Don't give up, don't ever give up!"  I wish you the best.  Now do the Nike and "Just do it!"  Good Luck!
Jumping down off my high step.  .02worth of talk. 
John Enloe
Middle Creek High School Band
Apex, NC USA

johnjenloe at earthlink.net