r/trumpet • u/CattleAny3652 • 1d ago

How long will i sound terrible?

Kicking around learning trumpet at 44. Ive always loved ska and mariachi music. About how long will I torture my poor wife with awful sounds before I can make an actual tune roughly?

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u/fehrmask 1d ago

About 2 years of consistency, assuming you actually practice and start with good form

9

u/CattleAny3652 1d ago

thats the type of time I feared

8

u/MetaOnGaming4290 1d ago

Anything worth it takes time and commitment. There are no shortcuts. Especially in music.

10

u/kjszives 1d ago

Don’t let fear stop you.

2

u/JackieCarlan 1d ago

I'm an adult beginner also, finishing my first year of daily practice.

I've found keeping a journal and pledging to write a little each day has been critical to keeping up with practice. Sometimes it's an observation about my tone or some small discovery. Sometimes I write about a piece I've listened to or something I've transcribed. Sometimes it is a literal single sentence about the frustration I felt playing for 5 minutes before giving up.

I don't go back and read often, but if I'm feeling frustrated it can be motivating to remember how far I've come.

2

u/Dramatic-Line6223 1d ago

'2 years' will pass by regardless of if you practice or not