My mother always took my brothers and me to music lessons. There were six children. Our parents attended our concerts and encouraged us to study and enjoy many different types of music.
Trumpet players see each other, and it's like we're getting ready to square off or get into a fight or something.
I didn't want to get that ring around my lips from practicing the trumpet, because I thought the girls wouldn't like me. So I never practiced.
I got my first trumpet when I was six years old, from Al Hirt. My father was playing in Al Hirt's band at that time.
The nerves are a problem on trumpet, because when you mess up everyone can hear it. Just remember most people are too polite to say anything about it. That should calm your nerves.
The heart of a music is its rhythm. The heart of rhythm section music is the rhythm.
