Sometimes I get play with a community swing band and I feel so very fortunate that I have the opportunity to do so. The director of the band has been more than gracious enough to allow me to sit in and learn from other musicians. It is when I perform or practice with this group that I am happiest. Oh, there are times when I get run over by the freight train… get the quick count, stumble out the gate and look for whole notes and half notes to jump in on. I appreciate everyone’s patience as I try to get up to speed. I really love playing with this band.

One thing I am learning – in order to play trumpet – you MUST hear a tone in your head before you attempt to play it. When I played clarinet and sax – I basically blew and hit the fingerings. Nothing against woodwind players but brass players have it much tougher. There are several different tones to each fingering on a trumpet. In order to nail that tone you need to hear it. If you don’t hear it you will undershoot it or overshoot it. If you get lucky and lip it correctly – you’ll be either sharp or flat IF you don’t hear it. You gotta hear those tones. It makes sight-reading that much more difficult. I realize it is something that doesn’t happen over night but I know I need to be conscience of building that skill set (along with everything else).