<p>I think NYMom mentioned she had instructed her son about how to care for his instrument. Honestly, flute-twirling aside, I constantly carried my flute around… to the kitchen, to take a phone call, to the mailbox…because I was constantly practicing that thing and it almost never left my hands (except to pick up a baton). I can see the flute getting knocked off the counter while grabbing a snack. Casing the instrument is always wise, but accidents happen. </p>
<p>I think the most risky time for an instrument is when marching band kids are moving out of the stands to the field to ready for the halftime show. Many a bell dented during that transition.</p>
<p>“I feel like the clumsiest person on earth”<br>
Sorry NYMom, that would be me and husband. After going through a few sets of nice dishes we resigned ourselves to our clumsiness and bought Corelle. It’s not pretty, but I’m no longer sweeping up glass.
So as a truly clumsy trumpet mom here, may I suggest buying a trumpet stand. For those times when your son’s trumpet is out of the case, it is much more secure than leaving it on the floor or a chair. (Especially important for ensemble practice.)</p>
<p>“I broke the trumpet, but I swear it was an accident…”</p>
<p>(I could even use the original lyrics, “self-defense,” given the ear-splitting sounds that emerge from that bent bell.)</p>
<p>violadad, I decided to wash the mouthpiece in the sink, so I carried the instrument to the kitchen. When I pulled the mouthpiece out, it was harder than I’d expected, and somehow the trumpet ended up on the floor. Fortunately (or unfortunately), it still sounds the same so I will wait until his music program ends to take it in for repair.</p>
<p>I will have to look for a trumpet stand, if he continues.</p>
<p>sunnyflorida, this son is only 8 - too young for eye-rolling! He’s a very sweet little boy who would never think of criticizing me. I can see the future, though, in his 14-year-old brother, who does feel free to criticize me!</p>
<p>NYMomof2,
If the mouthpiece was that difficult to remove, it was probably put in too tight by your son. (So says my trumpet playing S.) It really shouldn’t take much effort at all to remove the mouthpiece. If you ever have a situation where you cannot remove a stuck mouthpiece, this is something which must be dealt with by the music store. They have a tool to remove “stuck” mouthpieces. You can really mess up a trumpet by forcing it.
And, LOL that it still sounds the same with the bent bell.</p>
<p>NYMom - I can tell you of something worse that a beginner trumpet player…and that is a percussionist with a few years training and his own snares. Och! Why must we always have the snares on and the silencers off??</p>
<p>There were few times I had to sacrifice the neighbors and have him practice on the driveway so his sister could study for her SATs. (They were all very nice about it…the neighbor across the street was always requesting Deep Purple or Steppenwolf or that one hit wonder by Steam ‘Kiss Him Goodbye’…lol!)</p>
<p>momof3sons, the mouthpiece was not really stuck, it was just harder to pull out than I’d expected. And it is funny that “Pop Goes the Weasel” sounds the same (at least to me) with the severely distorted bell! But the shape is not affected at all until the very end, where it has flared out, so maybe this makes sense?</p>
<p>Hi NYmomof2!
I am in town (at my dads)-- just down the road from you! Thanks for arranging the beautiful weather!
Sounds like you’ve gotten great advice here-- take it back to the shop and see if they can
reshape the bell. When my s got changed over to the baritone, the school lent him one that honestly looked like kids had taken a mallet to it! It was so dented up. But it played just fine. So, not to fear, the cosmetic damage may be repairable, and probably doesnt matter in the long run. I guess its like geting a new car that got its first ding.</p>
<p>Funny whenI was reading the thread, I started humming “Broke the trumpet” (emphasize the word Broke") to the tune of… oh what’s that song-- something- the Casbah… (it is on tha commercial where they are downloading songs and have the lyrics wrong…) Now, of course,it has morphed into I shot the sherrif. Thanks. I hope I can get it out of my head and get some sleep!!! Good luck- I am sure it will work out fine.</p>
<p>That is funny that the trumpet sounds the same! LOL</p>
<p>In our house, the trumpet has been Everywhere. The cello - no way.That stays confined to the living/music room, in its case when not being played. I think there’s something about the different temperaments of the brass vs. string players… ;)</p>
<p>ldmom-
You can go on that new show where you have to know the lyrics of songs. heck… I not only don’t know lyrics, I don’t know the name of the show!</p>