Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:05 pm Post subject: introduction
I am a returning trumpeter/cornetist who is 69 years old, retired, and anxious to join a senior citizens band. We have such a band here locally and I was told by their info gal that there is no need for a tryout. They start to rehearse the second week of Sept. which 'should' give me time to improve my chops a bit.
i hear william vacchiano of new york philharmonic legend is in his 90s, & still goes to a community band. nowadays he just fingers the notes...i'll bet he never misses a lick.
jazzer bunk johnson played far into his senior years.
keep going!
what's your gear today?
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:10 am Post subject: my gear
My current inventory includes the following;
Couturier gold plated trumpet,( medium bore).
Wurlitzer Professional trumpet.
Beat up Conn Director trumpet.
Wurlitzer Improved Symphony model short cornet.
Martin Imperial Handcrafted extended cornet.
Holton Clark Model extended cornet.
Olds Ambassador cornet.
Cleveland by H.N. White cornet.
Buckingham cornet.
I only bought two of these. The rest were inherited from my dad and grandfather. They are all very playable and do get frequent use.
Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:37 am Post subject: My dad
At one time my dad was a professional trumpeter and his dad was as well. My grand dad preferred the cornet. My dad preferred the trumpet. I started on the cornet and later went to the trumpet exclusively for a while, BUT, I did go back to one of my cornets as my primary instrument.
Old Lou you sound like a great guy! I hope we get to meet someday! _________________ "To be a teacher you need to be as good a performer as you can be: you'll have more to impart to your students musically." - John Haynie
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 8:18 pm Post subject: meeting
Well, Bandman, I do thank you for the flowers. As for meeting, i don't see that as a viable possibility. Considering that you live in Louisiana and I am in Michigan. If you decide to come to where the sands are white, the water a clear blue and the women beautiful, then a vacation on Lake Michigan is what is prescribed. We live about 32 miles from the State Park campground at Grand Haven,Mi..C'mon up.
Hi OLDLOU...like you I guess I am an old timer I'm 67 and have been playing since the age of six! Still playing cornet in competitions in a British Style brass band...flugel in another band, which doesn't compete and lead trumpet in a community big band. I only wish we had some more up and coming youngsters like you appear to have in the states, to fill the vacant seats in many brass bands here in South Wales. _________________ Alan
Hello AlanBach! Nice to have you here. I'm sure we can learn a lot from you,being that you're probably been playing longer than most of us. It's also great to have another cornetist here. I wonder...why is it that many "oldtimers" started out on cornet? Well, I hope to see you around. Chris
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 10:01 am Post subject: Old timers on cornets
In my opinion, the reason that most of us "old timers' started on cornets is simply a matter of balance and ergonomics. With a trumpet it is difficult for a small child to hold that long horn way out in front of his face. It soon gets VERY heavy for a little kid.
The other matter, that of ergonomics; for a small child with short arms, it is quite difficult for him/her to reach the valves comfortably when trying to play a trumpet. With a cornet, the whole horn is closer to the player, making it easier for small children. When we get older, we then appreciate the sweeter tonality and the relative ease of playing the more 'acrobatic' pieces of music that are to be found when playing a cornet.
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 11:46 am Post subject: Re: Old timers on cornets
OLDLOU wrote:
In my opinion, the reason that most of us "old timers' started on cornets is simply a matter of balance and ergonomics. With a trumpet it is difficult for a small child to hold that long horn way out in front of his face. It soon gets VERY heavy for a little kid.
The other matter, that of ergonomics; for a small child with short arms, it is quite difficult for him/her to reach the valves comfortably when trying to play a trumpet.
OLDLOU>>
Lou,
I've been a band director for 27-years. My band program was over 400 students for the vast majority of those years. I have started thousands of beginners and I have never had a child too small to be comfortable with a trumpet, a trombone, baritone, or a bass clarinet.
I have started students on baritone with the intent of changing them to tuba. I have also had students play a 3/4 size tuba and then move up to a full tuba.
The hardest instrument of the basic 5 to play due to size is the flute, and that only because it is held to the side. To help with that problem we start them with plugs in the open-holes.
I could imagine a problem for a child who might start prior to 5th grade, but there would be other problems as well like the fact that they might not be physically mature enough to support a wind instrument. For that reason I suggest that younger students play piano to get a good musical foundation.
Students in the years when you were a beginner started on cornet because of the tradition of cornet and trumpet in the military band. _________________ "To be a teacher you need to be as good a performer as you can be: you'll have more to impart to your students musically." - John Haynie
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 4:40 pm Post subject: cornet vs trumpet
I started at age 8 and was given a cornet to start with, because my grandfather was the one who spent the money on it. I also tried both of my dads trumpets, a Couturier and a King Silvertone Super 20. I found the trumpets much heavier to hold horizontal than my new cornet. I preferred the cornet, even though it was a second line from some British maker, a Buckingham. Ever hear of a Buckingham? The reach to the valves was also much more comfortable on any cornet that I tried. I guess that I am basically just a cornetist, rather than a trumpeter. This is not to say that I don't own and play several trumpets. Currently in my music room I am looking at a Couturier, a Yamaha 232,( a student horn, but, I like it),A Conn Director coprion bell, a Wurlitzer Professional, and lastly, an old Getzen DeLuxe 90, (not a Super De Luxe with the tone ring). I still prefer grandpas ancient Wurlitzer Improved Symphony short, shepherds crook cornet with a full 5" bell. It is a large bore horn. I just measured the inside of the 2nd valve tuning slide with my Sterret dial caliper at .468" I think it was a bit ahead of it's time. I will never sell this one. I hope that when I am gone, someone who appreciates quality will end up with it. I have played many high end cornets and this one is still head and shoulders above the lot.
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: cornet vs trumpet
OLDLOU wrote:
I preferred the cornet, even though it was a second line from some British maker, a Buckingham. Ever hear of a Buckingham?
There is a famous painting by Peter Paul Rubens of the Duke of Buckingham where the Duke is seated on a horse and above his head is a cherub holding the Trumpet of Fame. I can’t remember the name of the museum where it hangs, but it is in the Dallas area.
Peter Paul Rubens lived during the 1600’s and his painting inspired many “stamp horns” that went by the name Buckingham. They were sold mainly in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. To find out who actually made the instrument you would need more information, like the place it was built, probably some initials of the horn maker, or even a design engraved into the bell. _________________ "To be a teacher you need to be as good a performer as you can be: you'll have more to impart to your students musically." - John Haynie
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:17 am Post subject: Buckingham cornet
The bell stamp is a crown above which is a star, with the name Buckingham beneathe the star, and, in very fine print Made in England under the brand name. Any guess as to who made it?
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I'm 67 and have been playing since the age of six! Still playing cornet in competitions in a British Style brass band...flugel in another band, which doesn't compete and lead trumpet in a community big band. I only wish we had some more up and coming youngsters like you appear to have in the states, to fill the vacant seats in many brass bands here in South Wales.