[TPIN] Lamps, artwork, collections and kids?

[Allegro69]

Message: 6
Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2007 14:17:41 EST
From: Vaxtrpts at aol.com
Subject: [TPIN] Lamps, artwork, collections and kids?
To: pedaltone at bright.net
Cc: tpin at tpin.okcu.edu
Message-ID: <bbe.83d236d.32d54455 at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

SNIPPED
I know exactly where you are coming from, Jeanne.  My wife, as a  middle
school band director for 28 years, has always dealt with obtaining enough
instruments for all the kids who can't afford to buy or rent one.
But - sometimes people have instruments that maybe have special meaning to
them or are part of a collection, or are just beautiful to look at.  It
doesn't mean that they shouldn't keep them for their own enjoyment.  Sure,
I have
about 25 or 30 trumpets in my collection.  Could they go to  kids?  Yes, I
guess so, but what would a student do with a 1903 Conn  Perfected Wonder
Cornet or
an 1878 Weinert Eb Cornet?   Could a  student use my pristine Olds Mendez or
my "one of only a few in the world" Clark  Terry Olds Flugelhorn?  I guess
so,
but they ain't getting them.   There are certain things in life that we hold
on to because they mean the world  to us.  I have helped raise funds for
schools for years, to help with all  aspects of the music department.  My
non-
profit "Friends of Big Band Jazz"  has given thousands of dollars to schools
to
help.  I just won't part with  my collection.
Just my two cents..............................
Mike Vax

While my 'arsenal' of trumpets is not as numerous as yours Mike, the ones
that I have and use on a 'switch around basis' are safely displayed in my
living room on a ladder type unit where I can place a couple of horns on
each rather wide 'rung'. I picked up the unit at Pier One Imports for what
amounts to chump change. Along with the horns, on one rung I placed a neon
fixture that resembles a set of lips and on another, rests my infamous black
derby hat. My display is the first thing that catches visitors eyes when
they enter my living room. Meanwhile, if I want to switch horns, I take the
one I want to play and fill the empty space with another. Any overflow of
horns, I place on regular trumpet stands.

I agree with you that parting with horns being an emotional issue. Perhaps
if we plan beyond our existence on Earth with provisions in our last will
and testament, we can address the situation of worthy kids inheriting our
beloved and well cared for instruments. How this is done is up to the
individual's priorities and the recognized needs of others. I'd love to have
the bucks to give any and all a trumpet of their choice, but like the
majority of us, I can only chip in to the process, being what my limited
means
are. Thankfully, my daughters are doing better than me, with plenty plenty
remaining when I kick the bucket, and accept this as my trying to do the
right thing. As an aside, I've also made provisions to donate my 900 hours
of recorded old time radio program cassettes to my local public library for
all to enjoy. Where there is a will, there's a way.