Trumpet photos, videos, sound clips & blogs
Paul Merkl's Page
Profile Information
- I play these instruments...
- Bb Trumpet, Drums
- I perform...
- Contemporary Jazz
- Playing Level:
- Amateur working hard to improve
- My preferred equipment:
- Modified/Custom Horn
- My most memorable trumpet experience:
- Getting my first pro trumpet - Harrelson ( converted 1963 King )
- Personal trumpet aspiration:
- Would like to be good enough to play smooth jazz at clubs or just jam with some locals
- About Me:
- I started playing music at 9 years old. Started playing Drums, then fooled arould with piano, guitar and then the Trumpet. Wish I would have started the trumpet thing at a younger age. But still having fun with it. I am taking lessons and also listening to as much jazz as possible.
- Interests:
- I enjoy good mellow tunes - like to kick back and play the trumpet but also like to get on the drums once in a while and kick it up. Favorite music is jazz and blues.
- Heroes:
- Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Chris Botti, George Duke. many others but Miles and Chet are the best.
Photos
© 2009 Created by Jason Harrelson on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
Comment Wall (3 comments)
You need to be a member of TrumpetCity to add comments!
Join this Ning Network
ANOTHER SUGGESTION IS TO FIND AS SMALL AGROUP AS POSSIBLE. YOU WILL LEARN MORE BY PLAYING LEAD. TALK TO THE KRYBOARD PLAYER AND HAVE HIM/HER PLAY LEAD WITH YOU FOR A SHORT WHILE, THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE
I FOUND A 2 PIECE COMBO (ACCORDIAN & DRUMS) THAT WERE PLAYING WEEKLY AT A LOCAL CLUB. I CONVINCED THEM THAT I WAS SERIOUS AND GOT THEM TO LET ME SIT IN FOR JUST A FEW SONGS A WEEK AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS I WAS PLAYING THE FULL JOB (STILL NOT BEING PAID). I ASKED FOR THE LEADER TO CHECK WITH MANAGEMENT ABOUT BEING PAID. A WEEK LATER THE ANSWER CAME BACK NO!!! I SAID I WOULD WORK ONE MORE WEEK FOR NOTHING. ON THE LAST DAY I APPROACHED THE BARTENDER AND TOLD HIM AT MIDWAY THROUGH THE JOB I WANTED TO BUY EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE A DRINK. KEEP IN MIND THESE WERE 90% REGULAR CUSTOMERS. THE NEXT WEEK WHEN THEY ASKED WHERE I WAS THERE WAS QUITE AN UPROAR. THE FOLLOWING WEEK I WAS BACK AND WAS BEING PAID. PAUL, I CAN TELL YOU THSAT JAMMING WITH FRIENDS(WHILE GOOD) IS NOT THE REAL ANSWER. YOU HAVE TO GET IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE AND JUST GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU GOT. DON'T WORRY ABOUT MISTAKES, EVERYBODY MAKES THEM. CUSTOMER CAN TELL AND THEY APPRECIATE WHEN YOU PLAY YOUR HEART OUT. WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED??