Fort Fairfield teen receives trumpet
from Grammy-winning artist
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
SETH WOODMAN, a seventh-grader at Fort Fairfield Middle/High School, displays the Bach Stradivarius trumpet that he recently received in the mail from the legendary Wynton Marsalis. The 13-year-old’s father, Michael, e-mailed four well-known trumpet players earlier this year with the hope that one or two might respond with some encouraging words for the budding musician. Instead the Grammy-winning Marsalis sent the teen a new trumpet, which Woodman said was “an awesome gift.”
FORT FAIRFIELD — When Seth Woodman’s father, Michael, e-mailed four well-known trumpet players earlier this year, he did so with the hope that they would share some encouraging words that he could pass onto his son. What the 13-year-old ended up with was a new trumpet sent to him by Grammy-award winner Wynton Marsalis.
“My Dad was e-mailing a bunch of people saying, ‘My son’s a trumpet player. Do you have any tips? Suggestions? What should he be doing to get better?’” said Woodman, a seventh-grader at Fort Fairfield Middle/High School. “Most of them just wrote back ‘This is what he should be doing …’ but my Dad got a letter back from Wynton Marsalis’ director of special projects saying that Wynton wanted to send a trumpet. A couple weeks later a trumpet came in the mail at my Dad’s work.”
Michael, who plays the tuba, was not expecting anything from the e-mails, but had hoped that “one or two of them might contact Seth and that it would motivate him in his learning.”
“I did not tell Seth until the trumpet actually came, as I guess I was still a little in disbelief that this was happening,” he said. “I took the trumpet to Seth at school where he opened it. My reaction was one of pride and joy, as I know that my son will truly value this gift for his entire life.”
Seth said the trumpet he received is a Bach Stradivarius which is “pretty high up there as far as trumpets go.”
“It’s a professional-level horn,” said Woodman. “When I first opened the box, I didn’t know what it was. It came in a cardboard box with packing peanuts and it was fairly heavy, so I opened it and there was this brown case and I still didn’t know what it was. I took it out and read ‘Bach’ on the case and then I knew what it was. I was like, ‘Where did you get this Dad?’ and then I was speechless for the longest time.”
Woodman has been playing the trumpet since the fifth grade. He plays in the concert, jazz and pep band at his school, as well as in a small symphonic band and a trumpet ensemble at his church. He also recently joined the symphonic band at the University of Maine at Presque Isle known as the UMPI Community Band.
“I didn’t know my Dad was e-mailing anyone,” said Woodman, “but once I got the trumpet, he printed off all the letters for me. Then I was able to piece it all together.”
Michael also sent e-mails to Doc Severinsen, who they did not hear back from, Don Shire, who replied by e-mail, and Chiz Rider, who sent a nice note back with several CDs of his music.
Woodman said — for now — he primarily plays his Bach Stradivarius outside of the band room.
“I’m keeping it out of regular band because I know the trumpets that I play in the regular band don’t always get treated so fairly,” he said, “but I take it to play in the UMPI Community Band and I play it in school concerts.
“It’s easier to play my new trumpet,” said Woodman, “in the sense that sometimes trumpets hurt your lips or you don’t have enough air. This one just seems easier to play. It definitely comes out with a different tone … it just sounds more trumpet-like than the one I usually play on.”
Woodman sent Marsalis a thank-you note.
“For somebody who doesn’t even know me to send me such an amazing gift,” he said, “was just awesome. I can’t thank him enough.”
Michael agreed.
“If I could say anything to Wynton, it would be, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you!’” he said. “I am hoping that this gift will push my son to new heights as he continues to pursue excellence at the trumpet.”
Michael said he would like to challenge parents who have school-aged children to support their schools’ music programs.
“It is becoming increasingly tough to keep kids involved in music, as so many other academic and extra-curricular activities are offered,” he said. “While it may seem painful to hear a child who is learning a new instrument, studies have proven time and again that kids who excel in music also seem to do well in school and grow up to be well balanced individuals.”
The Woodmans are a musical family. Seth’s twin sister, Laura, plays the flute and his mother, Becky, plays the clarinet. The entire family plays in the UMPI Community Band.
“It has been fun to play with accomplished musicians who are focused on playing symphonic band music in northern Maine,” said Michael. “If you ever have played an instrument in the past (or play one now) and you would like to be involved in a fun, symphonic band, consider joining us.”
The UMPI Community Band rehearses Mondays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the music room in Wieden Hall starting in September.
“We generally encourage students to be at least in seventh grade, and you may want to check with your band director to see if they think you are ready,” Michael said. “Even if you haven’t played your instrument in a while, don’t worry; you can come for a rehearsal and test the waters.”
