03-01-2014, 03:08 PM
(03-01-2014, 08:58 AM)PrinceLightfoot link Wrote:I have no clue what is in short supply on campus right now or if instrument choice would help in a favorable admissions decision, but I would say whatever instrument she enjoys playing - LSJUMB will take any instrument. ;)
I began learning on an organ (the poor man's piano - eventually became proficient but not expert) at age 5, moved to Trombone (the slide bothered me when I was young because I could not reach 5th position notes), moved to Baritone (not exciting enough for me), and settled in on Trumpet since my 6th grade band only had one at the time. I LOVED IT and it became one of my passions which I enjoyed professionally for 14 years. It is used in a wide variety of music - classical, jazz, polka, mariachi, etc. not to mention having most of the melody lines in the LSJUMB.
A great base for any instrument in my opinion is the piano. No other instrument leads a student of music to a clearer understanding of how chords and scales work together except possibly classical guitar or harp. At that point, learning other instruments only becomes about muscle memory since the knowledge of music already has its foundation.
I definitely need to hear more about this trumpet career. Hard to go on to a career in brass unless you can devote a brobdingnagian amount of time to practice and performance.
My daughter is semi-serious, but wants to have fun, not make a living at it. She did not put in the work required to get to conservatory level, but that was not her interest and she preferred to get good grades. The kids who are better in NorCal practice 3 to 4 hours a day. I don't know if you noticed that she uses a Harrison wedge mouthpiece from Canada. She had a lesson from Brandon Ridenour of Canadian Brass who had her try it (the guy on the far left in the bumble bee video). New technology. Wynton thought it was really odd when she got a lesson from him, but he did not tell her to change.
