WTB: Professional level horn for a great kid - read inside please.

ttf_Adrianct729 · Post by **ttf_Adrianct729** » Sat Dec 09, 2017 3:48 pm

Hello trombone friends,

A student of a friend of mine is a 7th grade trombonist at a great middle school band program here in the Austin area. He is in 7th grade, and recently placed 4th overall in his region competing primarily with kids a full year older than him. He practices religiously and loves the trombone. Band is his home.

Last week, his father passed away suddenly at their home. He was the only breadwinner of the family and they, as you can imagine, are in a horrible state right now.

The school band organized a fundraiser for him. They raised enough to pay for his lessons the rest of the year, and have enough left over to buy him an instrument. This will likely be the last instrument he will be able to afford until college, and we want to make it a great one.

Ideally I'm looking for a professional quality instrument with a traditional rotor valve. Bach 42s are great. Getzen 3047ARs are great. Similar horns will also be considered. The price isn't really negotiable - every dollar that doesn't get used on a horn will go to the family. I'm also not really interested in buying a horn that you know to have significant flaws. This kid deserves a great instrument to play on. If you wouldn't happily allow your own student to play the horn you offer, I'm not interested.

Help us give this kid a little relief during the Christmas season. Email me with what you have and I'll look it over. If it looks good I'll talk it over with his band directors and private teacher.

Thank you for reading!

ttf_gregs70 · Post by **ttf_gregs70** » Sat Dec 09, 2017 6:53 pm

I was just about to sell some extra mutes. Alessi Vachiano straight, Humes & Berg small bore tenor cup and medium bore straight, plunger. They aren't pretty but if he has none it would save him/his family some bucks. I'm willing to donate whatever he could use.

ttf_Adrianct729 · Post by **ttf_Adrianct729** » Sat Dec 09, 2017 7:36 pm

That would be awesome! I'm sure he'd love that. Send me an email and We'll work out the details.

Thanks so much for your kindness!

ttf_trombonejb · Post by **ttf_trombonejb** » Sat Dec 09, 2017 8:48 pm

If I were his teacher, Id give lessons for free. Thats the price one pays when something out of your control severely negatively affects one person you have the opportunity to help him with. The kid lost a great puzzle piece to his family and giving free lessons would honor his/her father. It also gives him/her a fair advantage because the loss of the breadwinner of the family should not impede anyones aspirations. If he wants to be a great player when he grows up, do whatever possible to let him be a great player. I think making him/her pay for lessons is being insensitive to the tragic loss the family dealt with.

Thats just my 2 cents.

ttf_gregs70 · Post by **ttf_gregs70** » Sat Dec 09, 2017 9:17 pm

Quote from: trombonejb on Dec 09, 2017, 08:48PMIf I were his teacher, Id give lessons for free. Thats the price one pays when something out of your control severely negatively affects one person you have the opportunity to help him with. The kid lost a great puzzle piece to his family and giving free lessons would honor his/her father. It also gives him/her a fair advantage because the loss of the breadwinner of the family should not impede anyones aspirations. If he wants to be a great player when he grows up, do whatever possible to let him be a great player. I think making him/her pay for lessons is being insensitive to the tragic loss the family dealt with.

Thats just my 2 cents.

Suppose the teacher is underemployed and can't afford to give away lessons?

ttf_trombonejb · Post by **ttf_trombonejb** » Sat Dec 09, 2017 10:12 pm

Suppose the teacher is the one with a dead father that was at the time financially supportive of him.

Point is. People should never stop short of doing their best to help others.

ttf_vegasbound · Post by **ttf_vegasbound** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 5:42 am

Talk to DJ Kennedy. A good 42 or 88h will see this student to college and beyond!

ttf_Adrianct729 · Post by **ttf_Adrianct729** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 7:05 am

Quote from: vegasbound on Dec 10, 2017, 05:42AMTalk to DJ Kennedy. A good 42 or 88h will see this student to college and beyond!

I'm not sure who that is, but if you could direct them to this thread that would be great!

ttf_gregs70 · Post by **ttf_gregs70** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:21 am

Go to Site Tools in the toolbar, then Member List. Click on Search for Members. DJ is known to have good horns at good prices and match the horn to the player.

ttf_enobmort · Post by **ttf_enobmort** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 10:24 am

Hello all!

This is his trombone teacher, I was unaware of this posting until this morning so I'd like to clear a few things up. The OP is generously helping me find a trombone for this incredible young kid, so here's a quick update...

I have already reached out to several local and national trombone dealers (DJ Kennedy included). We've been able to find local deals for Bach 42's, Getzen's, etc and are sifting through each deal to hopefully find the best horn at the best price. Reaching out on TTF was an attempt to broaden those choices and pick the best instrument.

In regards to the cost of his lessons earlier referenced in this post...it was not my choice in this instance. I offered to teach him free of charge - well, because I do this with another student of mine who lost his father last year to cancer and I do realize the burden this places on a family. And I do this with another student of mine who is a senior in high school and works evening shifts in a single mom household. The examples over the years are endless, but I am teaching 6 students this year "pro bono". I assure you all, I am human - I do cater to my students and each of their circumstances. Back on topic, the band directors at his school reached out to the other band parents who decided they wanted to specifically allocate their money to things like his upcoming band trip (I'm taking our middle school trombone choir to the Big 12 Trombone Conference as the opening act to feature guest artist Charlie Vernon), other future trips, private lessons, and other band fees. As such, even though I wanted to teach him for free and offered - our incredibly supportive band parents were adamant on picking up the tab.

If anyone out there has a large bore professional quality trombone with a traditional rotor (or equivalent), please reach out!

Thanks All!

ttf_Brassgurus · Post by **ttf_Brassgurus** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 11:34 am

I could probably put together a Shires Custom for him at a drastically reduced price. If you want to talk about it email me at

[url=mailto:[email protected]][email protected][/url]

Eric Hand
West Coast Band and Orchestra
DBA Peninsula Music and Repair
DBA Park Ave Music Center
1717 Park Ave
San Jose, Ca. 95126
408-279-5100 x722
[url=mailto:[email protected]][email protected][/url]

ttf_enobmort · Post by **ttf_enobmort** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 11:44 am

Hi Eric - email sent, thanks!

ttf_gregs70 · Post by **ttf_gregs70** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:44 pm

Quote from: enobmort on Dec 10, 2017, 10:24AMHello all!

This is his trombone teacher, I was unaware of this posting until this morning so I'd like to clear a few things up. The OP is generously helping me find a trombone for this incredible young kid, so here's a quick update...

I have already reached out to several local and national trombone dealers (DJ Kennedy included). We've been able to find local deals for Bach 42's, Getzen's, etc and are sifting through each deal to hopefully find the best horn at the best price. Reaching out on TTF was an attempt to broaden those choices and pick the best instrument.

In regards to the cost of his lessons earlier referenced in this post...it was not my choice in this instance. I offered to teach him free of charge - well, because I do this with another student of mine who lost his father last year to cancer and I do realize the burden this places on a family. And I do this with another student of mine who is a senior in high school and works evening shifts in a single mom household. The examples over the years are endless, but I am teaching 6 students this year "pro bono". I assure you all, I am human - I do cater to my students and each of their circumstances. Back on topic, the band directors at his school reached out to the other band parents who decided they wanted to specifically allocate their money to things like his upcoming band trip (I'm taking our middle school trombone choir to the Big 12 Trombone Conference as the opening act to feature guest artist Charlie Vernon), other future trips, private lessons, and other band fees. As such, even though I wanted to teach him for free and offered - our incredibly supportive band parents were adamant on picking up the tab.

If anyone out there has a large bore professional quality trombone with a traditional rotor (or equivalent), please reach out!

Thanks All!

I know how important music has been for me all these years. Thanks for going above and beyond to help kids like him have the same chance to enjoy music that I was lucky to have. Kudos to you, my Forum friend!

ttf_Stan · Post by **ttf_Stan** » Mon Dec 11, 2017 7:13 am

@Josh and the OP: Apart from a horn, how can those of us that want to help help? I know playing my horn has gotten me through every difficult time in my life.

Stan

ttf_ghmerrill · Post by **ttf_ghmerrill** » Mon Dec 11, 2017 7:28 am

Quote from: enobmort on Dec 10, 2017, 10:24AM
In regards to the cost of his lessons earlier referenced in this post...it was not my choice in this instance. I offered to teach him free of charge - well, because I do this with another student of mine who lost his father last year to cancer and I do realize the burden this places on a family. And I do this with another student of mine who is a senior in high school and works evening shifts in a single mom household. The examples over the years are endless, but I am teaching 6 students this year "pro bono". I assure you all, I am human ...

I am happy to see this response, and held my tongue at what I regarded as the facile suggestion that a professional who depends on income from his services somehow "owed" a gratis contribution of those services (and the lost time and income) to anyone.

I would suggest that you're mistaken about one thing. This (contributing your services in similar instances) isn't just "being human". To minimize your contributions in such circumstances is to deflect our acknowledgement of the genuine personal sacrifice involved (and its effect on your own life and potentially your family's) -- something that isn't realized by everyone. It's not what you "should" do. It's what you've CHOSEN to do at some significant cost to yourself, and it makes what you do in such cases admirable and laudable -- and not merely "human".

ttf_GeeSamYouWell · Post by **ttf_GeeSamYouWell** » Mon Dec 11, 2017 8:01 am

Quote from: trombonejb on Dec 09, 2017, 10:12PMSuppose the teacher is the one with a dead father that was at the time financially supportive of him.

Point is. People should never stop short of doing their best to help others.

Can you tell me where you sent your donation? I'd like to help too.

ttf_enobmort · Post by **ttf_enobmort** » Mon Dec 11, 2017 10:58 am

Hello everyone, if you'd like to help out I definitely won't stop you. If you have any extra trombone things that we can give him "from the trombone community" let me know (email me at [url=mailto:[email protected]][email protected][/url]) and I'll send you my mailing address to ship to and I'll give it to him with the instrument for Christmas. He is a 7th grader named Miles who loves jazz, Trombone Shorty, trumpet, trombone choir, and pretty much all things trombone. He's a kid with a lot of curiosity!

So incredible to see people who have never met him want to help out! Thanks all!!

ttf_Adrianct729 · Post by **ttf_Adrianct729** » Mon Dec 11, 2017 1:46 pm

Quote from: enobmort on Dec 11, 2017, 10:58AMHello everyone, if you'd like to help out I definitely won't stop you. If you have any extra trombone things that we can give him "from the trombone community" let me know (email me at [url=mailto:[email protected]][email protected][/url]) and I'll send you my mailing address to ship to and I'll give it to him with the instrument for Christmas. He is a 7th grader named Miles who loves jazz, Trombone Shorty, trumpet, trombone choir, and pretty much all things trombone. He's a kid with a lot of curiosity!

So incredible to see people who have never met him want to help out! Thanks all!!

I echo this. Literally anything helps. Trombone things are wonderful (books and music stuff), as well as supplies or materials. If you want to donate mokney to the family (which you are absolutely not obligated to do, let me know, and I'll put you in touch with his band director, who is a personal friend of mine and organizing the fundraising.

You guys are awesome. If there is one thing that this has shown me, it's that trombonists are uncommonly kind people.

ttf_gregs70 · Post by **ttf_gregs70** » Mon Dec 11, 2017 6:39 pm

E-mail sent. Donating mutes, more.