Each Journey of 1000 miles begins with one step

Hello to anyone reading! This Thunderbone's Notes, my new blog. This blog is intended to chronicle my attempts to becoming a professional trombone player. Thunderbone is the name I have always given my trombones. It came from T-Bones, being the nickname of the trombone section at Dillard Jr. High. Since the Ford Thunderbird was also shortened T-Bird, I combined the two, and created a name that reflects my passion for both classic cars and music. I currently play Thunderbone II, Tigershark. It is a King Cleveland 605 with Nickel plating and F Attachment. It was built sometime between 1975 and 1980 according to the King Winds serial number registry,which means that the horn is older than I am! I have had it since 1996, when I became a trombone player in the Bartlett Yancey High School marching band. I played in the wind ensemble, the marching band, and the jazz band in High School, earning the John Philip Sousa award my senior year. I also played in the last Elon College Wind Ensemble, The Elon Pep Bands, and was a Charter Member of the Fire of the Carolinas, the Elon University Marching Band. However, after my fall 2001 semester, I put my trombone down after eight years of playing. After some soul searching, I have come to the conclusion that I want to pursue a career as a trombonist. So, after six years of on again off again playing in the privacy of my own home, I am trying a comeback. Time is of the essence in this quest, however. I have a seven year window of opportunity to land my "dream job." This is, however, one challenge I am willing to accept, one journey I do not wish to postpone, and one journey that I hope will bring me closer to wholeness in a choice of career. Won't you come along?