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Volume 28, No. 1 - October 2003
Anderson, Michael: Trumpet Humor on the Internet Oct03/63
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The Internet, with its vast resources, offers an unprecedented volume of information to trumpet players. ITG offers this column as an introduction to this exponentially expanding resource. ITG cannot guarantee that these locations are completely accurate, and that all copyright laws have been observed. For suggestions and/or comments, contact Michael Anderson, website@trumpetguild.org
Trumpet Humor on the Internet
The October ITG Journal always includes a lengthy article about our annual conference. I would also like to let everyone know that the ITG Web Site and Journal staff covers every conference on the web as it happens. A review of every event with professional photos appears on the conference coverage web site within 24 hours of the event’s conclusion.
ITG 2003 at Texas Christian University was the sixth conference we have covered online. The first was in 1998 at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. The primary challenge we face each year is dealing with a different location and different people organizing the event. With the help of the conference host and the local computer people, we have been able to set up shop in their location and provide excellent coverage of events on-the-spot. In some years, we were able to provide short video and audio clips of events.
We have archived all the conference coverage sites on the ITG Web Site at http://www.trumpetguild.org/conferences/conferences.htm. Here you will find links to conference coverage sites from 1998-2003 and also links to pages of extensive photo coverage of the 1996 and 1997 conferences.
To visit the 2003 conference coverage go here: http://www.trumpetguild.org/2003conference/conferencecoverage.html
I would like to give many thanks to the conferences’ hosts, reviewers, editors, videographers, photographers and technical staff who have volunteered their time and considerable talents working grueling hours during the conferences to bring this coverage to the ITG Web Site.
Now for something completely different!
The Internet world is blessed by many humorous web sites on about any subject you can imagine and the trumpet is no exception. There are not very many web sites that spoof us trumpet players, but I know of two that do it quite well: Hosaphone™ Headquarters and Trumpet Geeks International.
Hosaphone™ Headquarters was created in 1996 (the middle ages in Internet years). It was originated by trumpeters and well-known TPIN and Brass-list contributors, David Roth and Ellis Workman. Hosaphone™ Headquarters is very difficult to describe. You just have to go there,  read it, and experience it for yourself. Be sure to read it all and read it carefully. The real gems are cleverly hidden in the text.
Although there is much to read and see on this site, the centerpiece of the work is the Hosaphone ™ FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions.) A FAQ, which was invented by Mark Horton at Bell Labs in the 1980s, is a highly organized Internet protocol designed to give the reader detailed information on a subject in an orderly and logical fashion. The Hosaphone ™ FAQ is the first ever official FAQ having anything to do with the trumpet and perhaps even the first in the brass world. By reading this page you can discover the history of the Hosaphone™, performance practices, how to build your own Hosaphone™, Hosaphone™ education, care, design, and theory and much more. You can also read the "Dialogue with the Master," a very funny interview with Roth as the interviewer and Workman as the inventor of "The beloved, revered and mostly plastic Hosaphone™."
You can visit the Hosaphone™ Headquarters at: http://roth-music.com/hosaphone/
Trumpet Geeks International started out as a site intended to make fun of all the stereotypical characteristics of trumpet players but has evolved into a useful and sometimes serious  resource site. Several years ago TGI splashed on the scene with a certain amount of mystery. It not only made fun of us with the Trumpet Geek logo and the "How To Spot a Trumpet Geek" graphic, but there was a page full of photos of real trumpet geeks in the flesh – yours truly included. I was quite flattered and set out to find out who the created of this clever site. I was able to figure out who provided the web space hosting for the site and he is actually a good friend of mine. Unfortunately, he is sworn to secrecy and to this day I have no idea who the mastermind of TGI is. Anyone care to spill the beans on this one? Please email me.
There are many interesting and useful components to the TGI web site and they have a very active web-driven BBS (Bulletin Board System) discussion group frequented by loyal trumpet geeks. You can purchase TGI mugs, t-shirts, mouse pads and other junk. There are links to Chris Kemp Trumpet Toons and of course, the popular – Geek Of The Week page where you can nominate your favorite trumpet geek for the highly celebrated honor – "Geekus Trumpetus."
Check out Trumpet Geeks International at: http://www.trumpetgeek.com
When it comes to humorous trumpet sites, the truth of the matter is there aren’t many. I searched high and low and couldn’t find many. If you know of others or you would like me to review your web site email me at: website@trumpetguild.org.
Check here for my complete list of Top 25 Trumpet Resources: http://www.trumpetguild.org/top25.html.
| About the author: Michael Anderson is Assistant Professor of Music at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. He is the Executive Director of the ITG Web Site, a member of the ITG Board of Directors, the ITG Journal Editorial Committee and Chair of the Technology Committee. Anderson was also the project manager of the ITG Journal CD-ROM that was distributed to each member last year. |
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