With over 28 years of experience, Dee McAfee is a well-respected school Band Director based in Orlando, Florida.
In addition, he can often be seen performing as a professional trumpet player for Disney and across the Orlando area.
Working with three school bands - St Margaret Mary Catholic School, the Annunciation Catholic Academy, and the Diocese of Orlando Honors Band - he understands the challenges and considerations parents have to address when choosing the right instrument for their child.
We recently asked Dee his thoughts on the pTrumpet as both an educator and a professional trumpet player.
What is your first impression of the pTrumpet?
"After playing the pTrumpet for about a week, my initial impression is how light it is compared to a standard brass trumpet. Even though it is so light, it still feels very durable and robust; ideal for children starting on the trumpet. I have allowed my 4 and 5-year-old grandchildren to use my pTrumpet! I would never let them play my professional trumpet because it can be damaged so easily."
"The way the pTrumpet has been designed makes it kid-proof! Not only would you be happy to allow children to use it knowing it can’t be hurt if dropped, but it also encourages good playing habits. For example, the design encourages the player to press the valves down straight removing one of the typical problems young players have from the get-go."
"I have seen early plastic trumpets from other manufacturers and the big issue was the values were very poor. The valves were unreliable, they would stick and not move fast enough. Not so with the pTrumpet, even made fully from plastic they perform like a standard brass trumpet."
How do you feel about the pTrumpet being made from plastic?
"As a band director for 28 years, I have seen many instruments dropped and knocked off chairs causing hundreds of pounds of dollars to remedy each time. But because the pTrumpet is made from plastic it can be dropped and it won't be affected. It won't crack and it won't break! It is durable and will take all that young children can throw at it. The design is just genius!"
How does its sound compare to a traditional trumpet?
"For non-trumpet players, it really is hard to hear a difference in the sound. It actually has a bit of a dark sound to a brass trumpet, often this is what you want, depending on the type of music you are playing. For children playing in early school bands, it is perfect. This thing is the real deal!"
As a professional trumpet player, when will you use the pTrumpet?
"I will definitely use my pTrumpet as part of being a band director. I have had many close calls with my professional trumpet being knocked off chairs or close calls with music stands being knocked over; I can’t afford for my professional trumpet to be out of action, especially at Christmas time when I can have 3 gigs a day a Disney. In fact, I intend to get a second one so I can have one at each school I teach."
Would you recommend the pTrumpet to your students?
"Absolutely! I can highly recommend the pTrumpet for any beginner and high school student especially those involved with marching bands which, by their nature, can easily damage their horns.
It is a great instrument to get kids started in music whilst being light and durable."
