Phil Smith, trumpet: 'It's a blessing'

CNN.com ^ | February 23, 2001 | Beth Nissen

[Fester Chugabrew]

This is the third part of an exclusive 10-part series on CNN.com/Career, on the working lives of musicians who play with the New York Philharmonic, one of the world's premiere symphony orchestras.

This week's Player: Phil Smith, principal trumpet.

He grew up in a Salvation Army family, playing cornet on street corners and in church bands. His father, a Salvation Army band soloist, was his only teacher. But Phil Smith was a player gifted enough to make it into Juilliard with no formal training -- then to the Chicago Symphony on his first audition; and then, while still in his 20s . . .

[Fester Chugabrew]

I stumbled upon this delightful article while looking into the fundamentals of trumpet playing. My grandpa played baritone horn and sang in a small community band. That's how he met my grandma. I remember being fascinated by his horn when I visited his home as a child. It was a big old thing my brother and I would blow through, probably sounding more like a sick moose than anything.

A trumpet will be arriving in our home within the next week, yet no one in my family has ever played one. It's an older one purchased through eBay. I wanted to get some idea of what it is like to play this instrument, and this is one of the articles I found. It presents a wholesome outlook on vocation in general and professional musicianship in particular. Of all things it was written by a CNN correspondent. The interchange is superb. Beth Nissen asks some really good questions that get to the nitty gritty of trumpet playing.

If you are a trumpet player I would appreciate feedback as to resources on how to maintain a trumpet, how to play your first notes, and any books on the fundamentals of trumpet playing that might help my family and me make proper use of this instrument once it makes its way into our home.

All the best to all Freepers!

[good old days]

Ping

[sitetest]

Dear good old days,

Thanks for the ping!

Classical Music Ping List ping!

If you want on or off this list, let me know via FR e-mail.

Thanks,


sitetest

[Huntress]

You're right. This article is indeed delightful. Thanks for posting.

[HoosierHawk]

bump for later read

[MinuteGal]

Fascinating article, at least to me.

My grandpa was a self-taught musician. No Julliard Conservatory luxury for most working class young men in those days. He played the piano, the clarinet, the bass fiddle, the accordian.....and the harmonica!

But my favorite was when he picked up his mandolin. How I loved that music.

My folks would take me from the suburbs to the big city where grandpa would play his mandolin yearly in concert with the old Chicago Mandolin Orchestra in Orchestra Hall.

Over a hundred mandolins of every tone and size, playing in perfect harmony. It was thrilling, especially when they played the vibrant Russian balalaika-type music. Raised the hairs on one's head.

Visiting Grandpa and Grandma we sang all the old songs around the table with Grandpa or Uncle John playing without sheet music. Uncle Harry would join in with his clarinet. How those good times are missed.

In grammar school we had "music class".....an hour three times a week with Miss Fravel who captivated us by playing classical music on a well-used record player....music she knew young kids would enjoy. And she gave us tough tests, we better have learned something, not just sitting there being entertained.

We analyzed concertos, operas, suites, choir music, symphonies, the lives of the masters. We learned to appreciate music and to dig deeper into classical music other than just hearing it. And this was grammar school!

Most kids and young adults today don't know the difference between Beethoven and Stephen Foster and don't care. They appear to be more interested in music as noise. More's the pity.

Classical music has been a mainstay and pleasure to me all my life.....and I don't play an instrument and I sing like a frog (or so I've been told).

Ribbit.....

Leni

[MountainFlower]

cool thread!!! thanks for sharing

[ItsForTheChildren]

Music is not just the black dots on the white paper -- it's what happens when those black dots on the white paper go into your heart, and come out again.

I've never heard it said any better than that.

A fascinating series. Thanks for posting it.