Definition of the term “Comeback Player”; A return by a well-known person, especially an entertainer or sports player, to the activity in which they have formerly been successful.
We are all aware of the application of the term “comeback player” when speaking of sports, but are you also aware that this term applies to musicians also?
Comeback players in music represent former musicians who for whatever reason chose or are forced to leave their instrument for an extended period of time. Eventually the draw is strong enough for the musician to reopen his/her instrument case and begin the slow and painful process of regaining his/her ability on his/her chosen instrument. This return to the instrument has continued across our country for many years now and does not seem to be losing its momentum.
Organized movements such as the New Horizons band movement has contributed to this resurgence of interest in returning to our instrumental roots.
New Horizons International Music Association (NHIMA) is an international non-profit organization committed to the New Horizons philosophy of music making and undertakes initiatives designed to support the development and growth of New Horizons music organizations. Its purpose is to:
- Continue Roy Ernst’s vision of expanding music making opportunities for adults
- Foster a positive atmosphere for creating new adult bands, orchestras, choruses and other music groups
- Provide services of interest to adult music groups and individual members of NHIMA including:
- Semi-annual Newsletter
- Comprehensive Web Site – www.newhorizonsmusic.org
- Printed and Electronic Membership Roster
- Information about Music Camps
- Discounted Registration to some Music Camps
- Encourage groups to sponsor New Horizons Music Camps, and encourage opportunities to visit and play music when traveling by visiting other New Horizons groups
- Encourage communication between New Horizons groups, their conductors and individual members on questions commonly faced by their groups
Other lesser known groups are also working to fill the need for a musical outlet for the more mature musicians interested in returning to their instruments or trying to learn a new instrument in a friendly, non-pressure situation.
One such organization which I am currently committed to is the Robson Chamber Ensemble at the Robson Ranch in Denton, Texas.
The Robson Chamber Ensemble began as a vision of an instrumental program based at the 55+ Robson Ranch in Denton, Texas more than a year before my wife and I actually moved there. The original concept began in Branson, Missouri where we were involved in the sale of our home overlooking beautiful Table Rock Lake. As with many older parents, the need to be closer to their children and grandchildren continued to grow and after visiting several over 55+ communities, we decided to relocate to the Robson Ranch just ten minutes south of Denton, Texas and only 20 minutes from our kids.
We were very active in Branson and the thought of giving up playing in the many shows on the strip was troublesome to me. Even though my age had crept up to an embarrassingly large number, I still wanted to be active in music. We visited several similar communities including the Villages in Florida. After spending several days there with friends and joining their trumpet ensemble for a rehearsal, both my wife and I decided to continue our search for our next move.
Our children suggested we look at the Robson Ranch community and after doing the traditional tour of the facilities, we both felt that this would be where we needed to spend our next few years. It just felt right. In addition to a warm fuzzy feel, I saw a potential for developing an instrumental program at the Ranch. And so, the movement began.
Shortly after making our move to Robson Ranch I started doing some ground work to get a feel of the history and potential for an instrumental program. Previously there had been three attempts to get an instrumental program off the ground and each had failed. Whether it was bad timing or just lack of interest, I’m not sure but as I continued with my ground work, I began to run into opposition from very unlikely areas. Rather than help my movement, I found strong opposition to what I had to offer. After working at a major university for 30+ years I was not a new comer to oppositions to my way of thinking so I worked around the opposition and continued my one man quest.
It has been over a year now since we moved to the “Ranch” and the time spent and the frustrations experienced have been well worth it for we now rehearse every Sunday evening in a beautiful ballroom with an elevated stage, beautiful Yamaha Baby Grand Digital Piano, along with a wonderful Robson Chamber Ensemble made up of 20-25 gifted musicians. In addition to this large ensemble, we have a Dixieland band, a Saxophone Quartet and a Wind Quartet (Trumpet/Horn in F/Tenor Sax/Baritone Sax).
The future continues to amaze me and I am so thankful that we made the move. Every week I have the honor of working with many gifted “Comeback Players” and the music we are producing is a tribute to the many years each of our members have dedicated to their instrument.
