In the Farmington School District in fall of 1969 all 5th Grade students learned to play the recorder. Shades of ‘Mary Had a Litte Lamb’ and ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’. Half way through the school year you had a consultation with the Music Teacher when you were evaluated and given your choice of instruments.
The Cornet chose me. It was January 1970, and I have been a horn man ever since.
My first horn is a Bundy Student Cornet which lasted until High School. I also acquired a bugle somewhere along the way and managed to earn the Bugling Merit Badge in Boy Scouts which was one of only two that I had ever earned.
In high school I could not afford an expensive horn like the other trumpet players so I bought a used LeBlanc Shepard’s Hook Cornet. It looked cool and I was more brassy on that horn than most of the rest of the section. I gave that horn a work it in a number of bands both in and outside of the school.
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I acquired a used Bach Stradivarius Silver Trumpet that I shared with my son and fellow trumpeter Tim. That horn has served us well. For me it was my primary horn for the time spent playing at Our Lady of Light Catholic Community. Several friends where made there including Roger Benson, Kenneth Tessmer and Father Angelo.
Playing the Trumpet in so many different bands and with so many different musicians has given me an appreciation for live performances. One of my favorite past-times is spent at live muic venues for concerts, festivals or hanging out listening to open mic night at a local watering hole.