When I scheduled my 10th Annual Trumpet Recital for my private students, I thought at least five out of six could make it. But when the 25th of May rolled around, only two actually came to our home in Edmonds and played. Still, it was important, and for those two, their families and friends, and my wife and I, it was significant.

Victor Snyder plays “The Pals” on his Olds Ambassador cornet

My seventh grader from Mercer Island was first, playing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and “Give My Regards to Broadway.” Next was my 70-year old from the Bryant neighborhood of Seattle, northeast of the University of Washington (UW). His selections were “When I’m 64,” “The Pals,” and “Roll and Tumble Blues.” For him, there’s a story associated with each of these pieces.

“When I’m 64”—well, he’s past that age and is retired from UW, but he thought his fiancé and her friend would get a kick out of it. The marriage is this July. “The Pals”—this polka was the piece which he played in eighth grade in Indiana in a state trumpet solo contest that he won. He’s still using his original Olds Ambassador cornet, c. 1961 (please see my blog post of 2 February 2019). “Roll and Tumble Blues”—he wants to focus on playing more blues pieces in the future, and there’s a chance he and a friend might form a combo to do it.

I played three songs to end the program, and we all enjoyed refreshments and conversation afterwards.

Photos were taken by my wife. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.