[TPIN] Backward buds, is it so?

[William Graham]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Camille Bresson" <l164638 at hotmail.com>
To: <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
Sent: Monday, June 05, 2006 2:52 PM
Subject: [TPIN] Backward buds, is it so?


>
>    Despite of diversified experiences I had being around for almost 
> fortysix years I still own the privilege of watching life with naive eyes. 
> Unfortunatelly (being entirely idiot must be less painful, I guess) after 
> a while I am forced to see things for what they actually are.
> A bitter discovery of late times wich added serious injuries to my ideal 
> view of life is that being a good musician does not necessarily mean being 
> an educated, sensible, open minded person as one would expect.
>
> That argument made me run away from my first trumpet teacher, as much good 
> as impolite, around one year ago. Probably too busy in selling me his 
> exercises books he was not finding the breath to answer questions of a 
> (curious) late beginner.
> Is it correct to brush and dry the inside of my trumpet daily after my 
> several hours of exercises? A frigid stare has been the answer.
> What is the mening of this note when I play in that key?. "If you need 
> harmony elements you have to search the internet or somewhere else!" was 
> the angry reply.
> Why am I not yet getting school's membership card? "Oh, you are a black 
> student of mine.". Nice to know, thanks.
> Having lessons from him my sound was rising like a rocket. Some neighbor, 
> instead of trying to kill the perpetrator of so many hours of trumpet 
> exercises, did send me a postcard with a periscopic Dizzy and their 
> encouragement to go on. Someone, still unknown, studying with my same 
> teacher already from several years was waiting his turn outside lessons 
> room and, allowed to come in, burst out congratulating on the one (me) 
> making that sound so jazzy (it was Imagination, old acquaintance I due to 
> Chet Baker). And so on.
> On the other hand, teacher was becoming each time worst; when he started 
> snatching things away from my hands I decided not to go there anymore.
>
> I asked the forum for a teacher available here where I live, and someone 
> offered to give me lessons. We excanged several kind mails then at last he 
> called at ten to have lesson at twelve, wich was not possible for me, and 
> that was all. Then I have tried to contact a name politely suggested from 
> the list by sending a paper mail to him at the conservatorium where he 
> teaches. I still do not get any sign back.
> The wonderful town where I live offers, among many other opportunities, a 
> workshop for free so as to make people closer to music. The man managing 
> it was well aggressive already before discovering I had a flat B trumpet 
> with me. When, few sessions later, tête-à-tête he menaced to send me out 
> of the laboratory because of (between very good sounds of mine, on his own 
> airing) my hesitations while playing and I decided to go sitting far from 
> the group as an auditor till getting good enough, he had a self-satisfied 
> sneer.
>
> Sticking to my opinions (avoid as much as possible contacts with small 
> minded people) I've actually never tried to get further explanations. Do 
> not wanna fight, or change anything, just want to blow my pipe as good as 
> possible!
> I've never thought it was a race, and that you have to start six years old 
> to become world's champion. If on one side I agree audience appreciation 
> is fundamental, on the other one I think the feeling of lines we pronounce 
> through our instrument must be more important than the speed one pushes 
> buttons or which high note can reach, that sounds more like olimpic games!
> What's the meaning of Conservatorium having same age limit admittance than 
> a century ago, when people was leaving not so much years, what is the 
> problem in teaching a fortysix years old fee-paying? Fear of giving 
> knowledge to one having already lots of experience? Dread that you can 
> reach in a shorter time what for me did take decades to achieve? Or maybe 
> concernings about someone who simply doesn't wanna (can not) join the 
> race? Is it so it has to work?
> I keep on honking anyway. Pratice exercises, do not smoke anymore, swim on 
> alternate days and, from a yogi point of view, keep on believing I'll meet 
> the right teacher the day I am ready for it (hope it is before I start 
> loosing teeth).
> Meantime, any comparative experience from other late beginners, 
> suggestions, doc's opinions, words of sympathy or different points of view 
> will be extremely welcome. Thanks in advance, Lanfranco Sydney Sonnino.

I started when I was 50 years old. I have found that some teachers are not 
able to teach adults. They are very used to teaching young people who are 
very pliable, and will always do their bidding without question. Try to find 
an older teacher who understands adult students, and will treat you as a 
fellow musician, and not as someone who is inferior because you are a 
beginner. Call your local college, and/or put an advertisement in your local 
newspaper for a teacher who is not afraid to accept an adult student........