A Musician Must Be Flexible- Part 2

Flexibility in your surroundings

Being flexible in your surroundings or environment refers to your interaction with the situation and people around you. Musicians at times can be moody, prideful, insecure as well as stubborn and arrogant. This is not a trait of all musicians but is true of many. When you are performing in an ensemble or performing on stage as a soloist, you are more on display than say someone working in a factory or fixing a leaky water pipes. Learning to be more patient and understanding can be very important to your musical success. Trumpet players have a reputation for being arrogant and boastful and we are sometimes singled out to be show offs and Prima Donnas.

Trumpet players are pictured by many as being puffed up blow hards that strut around like we own the world and in many cases we do. The reason for this sometimes justified discription is that we are in many ways insecure in what we do. The trumpet is not the same as a piano. Anyone can walk up to a piano, press a key and sound like an accomplished pianist; at least on one note. Even a violin, as difficult as it is to perform well on can be bowed with reasonable success by a complete beginner. But ask anyone to produce a decent sound on a brass instrument and the task becomes impossible. Brass instruments are not easy to produce an acceptable sound and the trumpet is the most difficult of all the brass instruments to do so. This may be the reason trumpet players tend to be puffed up with expansive arrogance. Well, that’s enough flattery for trumpet players.

Some trumpet players need to step back and view themselves as they perform their art. Lead trumpet players must, through necessity, be the leader in a big band. They also need to be careful not to take with them this dominating attitude with them they leave the stand. Please do not think that all trumpet players are guilty of these miss conducts for the vast majority of the players I have known are normal people. Some in the congregation I am preaching to now might be the exceptions that spoil it for the rest of us. To those who feel that the whole world is their foot stool, please read the following suggestions.

• If you think the band leader is not doing a good job, start your own band.
• If you think you are not being paid as much as you’re worth……….maybe you are.
• If you don’t like the arrangements, start writing.
• If you don’t like the way the singer sings, volunteer to sing so that she can benefit from your expansive talents.
• If you think another trumpet player plays poorly, please demonstrate to us all how you could play it better.
• If you complain that there aren’t enough playing jobs in your area, start your own band.
• If you grumble about playing polkas, move out of Nebraska.
• If your band jacket doesn’t fit, pay to have it altered.
• If you think your part is too high, start practicing.
• If you think the player next to you is out of tune, check your notes first with a tuner.
• If you sit there grumbling about the current trends in music, get up and change the channel.
• If you fume when asked to use a mute, perhaps the leader isn’t interested in only making you play softer.
• If you need to drink excessively when playing with your current band, you might want to change bands or visit AA.
• If you insist that the tempi are too fast or too slow, make sure you verify your opinion with your metronome (if you even own one).
• If you feel that keeping your book in order is below your ability, think about the next sub you ask to cover your part.
• If you are so strong that you play your third part at the top of your volume, would you be willing to play lead on the next two sets?
• If people refer to your lead playing as having a bad hangover, they may be referring to the bad releases at the end of a note not your drinking habits.
• If your chops are not up to the music, don’t take the job.
• If you bail on a leader at the last minute to take a better paying gig, ask yourself if it was worth it in the long run.
• If you are cracking jokes in the section while the father of the bride is toasting the newly weds, perhaps you would like to get on the mike and share your comedic talents with everyone.
• If you are a symphony player and this is your first gig with a big band, do not use the following words- man, cool, bitchin’ and monster. These terms are only allowed by musicians who have paid their dues.
• If you are a jazzer and insist on using terms such as retrograde inversion, be sure that it applies to what you are discussing.
• If your concept of a cornet is that it is an instrument only for beginners, grow up.
• If you think Classical musicians could never “swing” debate it with Wynton Learson Marsalis.
• If you think jazz musicians are unable to play Classical music, debate it with Wynton Learson Marsalis.
• If you are a jazzer, please remember that folk music was around long before jazz.
• If you think real jazz ended with the death of Charlie Parker, turn in your zoot suit and modernize your wardrobe with something more up to date like a leisure suit.
• If the part calls for a mute, bring one and stop telling the leader that you forgot yours.

I could go on with many more illustrations but for now I would like everyone to step back and view themselves as others view you. It might be the fact that it’s getting close to Christmas or it could be the fact that I’m tired of musicians complaining and putting each other down. Not every job can be a Mahler Symphony or Scrapple From The Apple. Not every chart can feature the sax section or every Prima Donna sing in tune.

In closing I would like to share a short example of how easy it is to learn humility. While attending North Texas State (University of North Texas) the lead trumpet of the 1:00 was my friend Larry Ford. The 1:00 had just returned from a California tour and Larry had received some hints from Bud Brisbois while they were on tour. Larry was very excited about his new information and asked me to listen to him play. I obliged and Larry ripped off a loud double G. He lowered his horn in great excitement waiting for me to reinforce what we both recognized as a great note. Without thinking I said. “That was great but a little pinched”. Without any hesitation, Larry shoved his horn into my hand and said, “Show me”.

That was one of the best trumpet lessons I ever had.

“Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night”.