Ability to Focus and Work Ethic Towards Practice

[stuartissimo]

Personality may play a part too. Some people prefer being told what to do (to the point where they’re so dependent that they ridicule those who aren’t) whereas others thrive if they’re able to take on a task on their own. Similarly, perseverence also comes in different forms. Where some are content to just grinding away the work put in front of them, while others need “fire and desire” to motivate them to tackle the challenge in front of them.

Certain combinations of character traits may contribute to a person’s ability to be succesful, and what would be their optimal road to that success.
_________________
1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces

[trickg]

[Rhondo]

What responsibility moral or otherwise do you have to do something in which you believe you have nothing more to prove and have apparently decided you’ve reached the limits of your talents teacher or no teacher, while not having fun?

Put the horn away and either come back to it someday or not?

[abontrumpet]

[trickg]

The discourse is fine - the analogy was terrible. I'll stand by that assessment.

Of course a person has to show up - virtually everyone does this at some point in time for something or other. For most of us it's our day jobs. I was fortunate enough that at one point in my life, playing trumpet WAS my day job. Yes - I got to a point where there were days I didn't particularly feel like playing but I showed up, picked up the horn, and did my very best, regardless.

I'm not sure how much of your discourse is directed at me personally. I've been "showing up" to play the trumpet for over 40 years. Sure - there are a lot of folks who have been doing it for longer. Good for them.

It's not unheard of for someone to decide to put making music aside for good. The instructor of one of my friends did that. In her 50s, she just stopped playing, and never picked it back up, and this was someone who played VERY well.

In any case, I haven't put the horn down yet. I have gigs on the calendar with the classic rock band and the big band, and I'll quite likely do the next season with the Orchestra, although I won't make the spring finale concert due to a personal trip I'm taking. But I am considering it.

Rhondo brings up a good point there - there's no moral obligation to continue to play. None whatsoever. There was a point where I brought home a significant amount of money in that side hustle, but those days shifted, and I just didn't feel like hustling to fill in the gaps when the wedding band folded and stopped gigging after the Covid 19 lockdown.

In any case, I have options. I can choose to do voiceover, or gig on drums, or whatever, because I seem to somehow have acquired the tools that it takes to be able to succeed, almost regardless of the endeavor....

Except for playing guitar. That always seems to elude me on the occasions when I've tried to pick it up. Maybe I should "GET A TEECHUR!!!!!"
_________________
Patrick Gleason
- Jupiter 1600i, ACB 3C, Warburton 4SVW/Titmus RT2
- Brasspire Unicorn C
- ACB Doubler

"95% of the average 'weekend warrior's' problems will be solved by an additional 30 minutes of insightful practice." - PLP

[abontrumpet]

[trickg]

[Rhondo]

Maybe the problem is having to brush teeth each time before playing the trumpet!

I kid, I kid. 🙂

[JayKosta]

[abontrumpet]

[abontrumpet]

[trickg]

[abontrumpet]

[stuartissimo]

Playing a musical instrument takes a lot of time so it's little wonder that at some point a person would question whether it's worth it. Especially for professional players, the amount of time invested is huge. And while it may be elective, it can feel mandatory to keep going because quitting would mean all that effort would be wasted. Scaling down helps to avoid making the decision, but the downside of 'wasted potential' (as trickg has mentioned) is still there; and it then becomes a matter of making music at a lower skill level is still as enjoyable.

I suppose another downside of having practiced/played that much is that a point of saturation is reached much sooner than an amateur would. It would probably take me several lifetimes just to catch up with the amount of playing trickg has done. And at some point, 'been there, done that' becomes an actual thing. Which sadly also means I have little advice to offer, as I've yet to reach the point where you're at. I suppose it comes down to whether playing at the level you're at with less practice gives you more satisfaction than frustration. And on the other hand, there's something to be said for hanging up the horn and doing all those things you missed out on earlier in life. Maybe taking a break would give you some insight as to whether you would miss playing if you quit?
_________________
1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces

[Brassnose]

I’m not sure hanging up the trumpet is a bad thing if the „fire and desire“ is not around anymore. After all, us rich westerners generally have a lot more options to make a living than most people in this world. So, if there is something that lets you make a decent living that is more appealing to you, do it. Why not?

There are people, also in the music world, who seem to have done it. Maite Hontele all but disappeared from the music scene although I would have loved to hear more music from her. Even Miles took a break

The “been there, done that” may sneak up on you in almost every profession and is certainly not tied to musical careers.
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Klier, (Frate or Curry)