Questions I Was Asked Today

Q. How often do you practice with the orchestra?
A. It depends on what sort of concert we're rehearsing. For a big Philharmonics concert there are almost always 4 rehearsals. There are usually 2 rehearsals for a Pops concert, and most of the summer programs (or kids shows) are put together in just one rehearsal.

Q. Why are there holes in the valves of my trumpet?
A. Depressing a piston valve releases the flow of air into its corresponding slide, thereby lengthening the instrument and lowering it by a half-step (in the case of the second valve) a whole step (in the case of the first) or a minor third (in the case of the third valve) from the open partial that would otherwise be sounded.

Q. Did you know that I have a star on my shoe?
A. .....

Q. Have you ever seen the horn that's all curled up and they blow into it?
A. Do you mean the french horn?

Q. No, it's like in movies.
A. Maybe a shofar?

Q. Yeah, that's what it's called! But isn't it like a french horn?
A. Yes, they're shaped similarly.

Q. I think the french horn sounds kind of funny. It sounds melby.
A. That's actually a pretty good word for it.

Q. What's the shofar made from?
A. From a ram's horn originally.

Q. Really?! That's so gross.
A. Well, I think they clean it first.

Q. Isn't one kind made from a seashell or something?
A. Yes, you can make some trumpet sounds by blowing in a conch shell.

Q. Where do they come from?
A. I don't know. From the beach, I guess.

Q. So what was I supposed to practice this week?
A. The songs that I circled.

Q. Oh, okay. Here's one.
A. I see. Did you practice this one?

Q. Yes. I was supposed to practice this one.
A. The date on this assignment is 03/19/97.

Q. Oh. That's okay, I didn't practice that one anyway.
A. I was just about your age in 1997.

Q. Wow, you're old.
A. Thanks.

Q. How old is your son now?
A. He's 18 months old now.

Q. Oh. I don't get how baby's ages work. I thought he was two.
A. No, not until November.

Q. Okay. So wait, when will he turn one?
A. He's already one. He turned one at twelve months.

Q. That's confusing.
A. Hm.

Q. Is he still conducting?
A. Yup.

(shows video)

Another productive trumpet lesson...