Oh, I should say that I bought it from a reputable dealer and got good advice from the salespeople. I went a couple of times. The saleswoman who actually plays brass instruments wasn't there today and I didn't want to wait until next week.

Bands ... yes, that's another reason I bought it. I would like to start playing music with other people; something I have hardly ever done and always wanted to do. It seems that a trumpet is an instrument that one can play in lots of different kind of groups --- amateur symphony orchestra, big band, military band, Balkan, klezmer, etc. I'd even play music I don't like that much for the sake of playing in a group. Guitar is difficult, because there is usually either no guitar or a single guitar in an orchestra or a band. I wasn 't successful the last time I went looking for people to play with and/or accompany.

I'm working up to going to an open mike night at one of the clubs in the town where I live. Maybe I'll find people with similar interests.