It All Started with a Trombone: The Hornman Memoirs

by Bill Nemoyten, Jo Nemoyten (Editor), Thom Ritter George (Introduction)

Bill Nemoyten has educated and entertained thousands of people all over the U.S. for over seventy years. And how did it all start? With a beat up loaner trombone and free lessons from his Cleveland public school. That one opportunity started him down a road he is still on at age eighty-four. Along the way, he spread his love of music to generations as a music teacher, arts advocate and administrator and as a performer in Ohio, Illinois and the San Francisco Bay Area. In “retirement,” Bill created The Hornman Show, an educational and entertaining extravaganza involving sixteen horns from around the world, jokes, funny hats, fake noses and, of course, music. He also started writing his memoirs which became this book. Many stories like “Trombone” and “Learning to Teach” are about the experience of being a music lover and teacher back when arts programs were fully funded and valued, giving a rare historical perspective on the decline of arts education and its ramifications. But there are also stories about being a twelve-year-old soda jerk, being the father of rebellious teenagers in the 1960’s, visiting a Bay Area clothing-optional retreat, spending a memorable weekend with Victor Borge (and encounters with many other famous folks) and finding out when he was sixty-two that his father wasn’t really his father! The book is enhanced by more than one hundred photographs, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia from Bill’s family, friends and former students. One thing is certain. The Hornman’s life continues to be full of surprises. As Bill’s friend and colleague, the multiple award-winning composer and conductor, Dr. Thom Ritter George points out in his Introduction, “Unlike many who desperately cling to the known fixtures of their lives, Bill embraces change and is open to following new developments when they arise.” This openness to life’s adventures and joy in new experiences is what makes Bill Nemoyten’s life stories not only entertaining and educational, but a rich source of wisdom and historical perspective for generations to come.

302 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2012

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was clearly a labor of love for its editor, the author's oldest child. It's a memoir by a dynamic eighty-something man who, after a successful career as a professional trombone player and music educator, now tours schools and libraries in a show called "The Hornman." In the show, he and one of his sons play multiple horns, including a shofar (Jewish ceremonial ram's horn" and a twelve-foot alp horn, in order to turn kids on to music-making.

I especially liked the chapters about Bill the Hornman's childhood. He's only seven or eight years older than my Dad, so I felt like I was getting a window into life during my own father's childhood in World War II. I also liked the parts about Nemoyten's family's Polish Jewish history, which is similar to that of my own father's grandparents from the region.

There's quite a bit of humor, and there are brief portraits of many celebrities whom Nemoyten met or with whom he played music. I liked the liberal use of photographs, which helped bring the times and the people to life for me.

My favorite parts were the last two sections dealing with the octagenarian author's acceptance of his age and mortality. That seemed the most universal and well written to me.

Still, there were many chapters that I only skimmed, with a wealth of detail probably only of interest to the author's family, friends, and many students. People interested in the history of the Jewish community of Cleveland would probably also find the book a useful primary source.

[Jenny T · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a nice surprise to come across a book written by my first Band conductor!

Mr. Nemoyten introduced me to trumpet playing at James Monroe School (and then John Muir Middle) when I was in fourth through sixth grade, but little did I know he had such a musically-rich and -devoted life. I did know that he was in a community band with my once best friend, when I discovered him playing the trumpet among the group when I went to watch them.

In this book, Mr. Nemoyten seems just as I remember him, in some ways. The happy go lucky but sometimes impatient, life loving band conductor. But I never knew that he's also Jewish, has traveled to 45 states, was married twice, has four kids, and hosts the Horn Man Show to promote music at the age of 90. I especially loved the details of his childhood and cultural milestones.

This particular book came from a thrift shop.