Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2017-07-03 19:52
My background is not that dissimilar to yours...piano at six, violin at 11, messed with all kinds of instruments in high school (as opposed to studying them, which my parents were not willing to finance) then on to college as a violin major, played pro (orchestra), didn't like it, lesson business, learned classical guitar, mandolin, electric bass, flat-pick guitar.....even played electric violin in a rock band in the middle 1970s. Back to school, engineering degree, did lots of chamber music in my new city and took up viola, finally really fell in love with the horn at 45, got good enough to get paid for it, developed dystonia (think Alex Klein, but mine was embouchure dystonia, different from finger dystonia) sort of had to give it up (but first love at that point)....then euphonium, then tuba, cornet, took up oboe in my late 50s, then serious illness for five years that nearly took me out, have got some life back, re-learned how to play horn and more or less can get around the dystonia but it's not where it was and won't be, ever. Currently playing horn and tuba in local groups, would be welcome on cornet. Always welcome on violin but .... violin is not fun because I did it for a living (rather wash dishes at a party than be their free entertainment) and now am getting back to oboe because it is a melody instrument like the violin that I can "just play music on" without the struggles that horn presents. Now 68 and retired, hoping that my "just do it" practice routine will get me where I want to be in terms of technique, after a while. Not doing badly but not where I want to be. So we have some in common, although different generations and life paths!
If trumpet is calling....be aware that brass are a whole different ballpark. For me, horn was and is the hardest out there, trumpet is easier but you have to have a teacher who can show you embouchure and not just make vague references to how it is done (which is very, very common in the brass world.) Tuba, for me, is easy, despite my being a very small person. Best of luck!
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