Starting Over: One Person's Journey | Part Time Musician . com

Starting Over: One Person’s Journey

This is the first post of a new series from our newest feature writer at PartTimeMusician.com. The names have been changed to protect the musically-addicted (!), but the content needs nothing else to stand on its own. We’re excited to be able to share this with you and welcome your comments!

That said, I’d ask that any encouragement be offered freely and any criticism be offered with civility. I’ve gotten used to the occasional trip to the woodshed from our few irascible-but-dear friends, but please take it easy on the new folk. We’re all on the same journey, even if we take different paths to get there.

Hi, I’m “Starting Over” and in September 2009 I was suddenly out of a job, after my company merged with another. Who knew that this awful experience would lead me back to music and hopefully towards a second career? Surprisingly it has.

After a few months looking for work, I was out of my mind, checking my email every five minutes for call backs from employers. At my wits end, I decided to kill some time by cleaning out my old Benge trumpet. I just wanted to make it through the day, but I got a lot more than I bargained for.

After cleaning the horn (which was hidden away in the basement for 20 years) I decided to try to play it and so it began. All the old feelings came back and I was on my way.

As a kid, I always loved the trumpet, but never made the effort to do things the right way. I never practiced or bothered to learn the fundamentals of my instrument and later I just quit, putting the horn away in frustration. I told myself I just didn’t have the ability.

Now, having picked it up again, I felt a mix of excitement and regret. I was excited to come back to something I really loved, while regretting all the years I wasted away from the instrument. While I couldn’t go back and change the past, I could make up for the lost time with a vengeance. So, even though I was 37, I was determined to make a serious go at this.

I wanted to do whatever it took to become a pro, no matter how tough a road it would be. And I know it’s a tough road, especially with a family and a new full-time job, as a great company made me a job offer just a month after I picked up the trumpet again.

I have been playing for 10 months now, putting in several hours every day. Beyond the fundamentals of the instrument, I am studying every day to improve my reading music, which has always been dreadful. Since I am so early in my journey, each day is a real learning experience for me and I’d be honored to share those experiences with you.

I also would appreciate any advice and encouragement from folks out there who are doing the same thing. God knows, I need all the help I can get.

Take care,
Starting Over

Please feel free to contact SO by email at startingover@parttimemusician.com or leave feedback below. To subscribe, please click this link. All the best to all!

Mark

Tags: Benge, come-back, comeback, journey, learn, over, pro, professional, starting, trumpet, work

Brass, General, Inspiration, Learning | Mark March 19, 2011

4 Comments to “Starting Over: One Person’s Journey”

By Cynthia, March 19, 2011 @ 5:14 pm

Dear SO,

Congrats and kudos to you for undertaking this journey; I am about to do the same myself, only I’m almost 20 years your senior!

Much like you, I quit playing the violin when I was in high school; I was as rebellious as I was talented. And also like you I lost my job, only more recently (1/18/2011 to be precise). In my case, the “loss” was a gift, and as I was clearing out my desk it was hard to keep from jumping with joy at my good fortune. I immediately set about doing all those necessary things (filing for unemployment benefits, rolling over my 401k, etc.), but also meeting with my college advisor to register for school FULL TIME. I have a couple of semesters to go to complete my BA, to be followed immediately by graduate school for which I already have a full ride.

In the midst of all this, I am going to resume playing the violin. You see, my nephew (who lives with me) is a talented cellist, and I have been living vicariously through him the past several years. Being involved with the music organizations that he is affiliated with have added fuel to my desire to return to music. Reading about people like you on sites like Part Time Musician provides me with even more inspiration, so THANK YOU, and I wish you all the best!
By starting over, March 20, 2011 @ 5:55 am

Hi Cynthia,

Congratulations! A full scholarship? That is wonderful. I’m also so glad you’re coming back to music. It is such a joy.

Sometimes a job change can be the spark we need to move in a different and better direction in our lives. It was for me and it sounds like it is for you as well.

I wish you nothing but happiness and success.

SO
By Cynthia, March 26, 2011 @ 1:50 pm

Thanks; I wish the same for you as well.

Please keep in touch regarding your progress, and feel free to contact me at: cynthiajone@gmail.com
By Clarence Griffin, August 23, 2011 @ 5:33 pm

Hi; I just came across your website checking out your version of the assembly of “renuzit practice trumpe mutes”, of which I now own and use one, with satisfactroy success. I turn 63 a week from today, and am a comeback trumpeter since last Nov. Practicing about ten months so far. I gave up the trumpet in the summer of 1965, just a couple weeks before my junior year of high school was to begin, due to loosing my upper teeth to gum disease. I occupied second chiar trumpet of our high school band at end of my sophmore year, and had practiced long and hard all summer with the intent of challenging the kid in first chair at the start of the new school year. Often wondered if he knew that dentist. So, I had been off the trumpet over forty years. In 1994 I had taken the trumpet out, started practicing, and joined a local community band…had just became temporarily unemployed. Within a couple weeks I landed another full time job and eventually lost interest in the trumpet again. There was a couple other times where I started practicing the trumpet again, most recently in 2007. In all cases, it was full time work and family responsibilities that I basically allowed to get in the way.
Then in Sept. 2010 I went part time and on social security. That’s when I made up my mind that I would get back up to speed on the trumpet no matter what. I initially just started practicing on my own for about four months, hooking up with a local concert band.
Although I haven’t yet got to the point of being able to actually play with the band yet, but have taken three trumpet lessons since early February. The last two sessions with the same teacher online via webcam. This guy is a true professional trumpet player who truly interested in helping guys like me develop our professional trumpet playing.
I guess all this proves that I’ve always had a passion for playing the trumpet; just didn’t really become aware of that passion until last Nov. For now, I’m content with practicing daily the exercises assigned by my tutor (because it is improving my performance), and aim to eventually become a contributing aound to the band. Really miss playing with the band; like you, the day I realized that I not only had a passion for the trumpet, but could actually start enjoying it again, I really got excited, and couldn’t hardly wait. I waited so long to start trumpet lessons because of budget restraints. I am very fortunate to find Glenn Bengry on TPIN. He is a terrific instructor, and very helpful. Oh, I also have been experiencing major regrets for giving up when I did in high school, especially when I think of all that I missed out on over the years. I struggled most of my life looking for an occupation that provide was at least satisfying, and joyful. Close as I could get after forty years, is retail. But know now that I would have much happier having forty some years experience trumpet playing.
I think I understand where you’re coming from, and wish you the best, as we both travel the same path.
Clarence from Norfolk Va