PROFILE
pInterview with Andy Rundquist
Andy Rundquist is a lot of different things when he steps onto Hamline grounds. Some may refer to him as an associate dean, a past Physics professor, or a member of the Wind Ensemble. However, if you ever see the jazz or pep band, you would probably point him out as the guy playing the plastic trumpet. The plastic trumpet and trombone, officially named the pTrumpet and pBone, are part of a line of plastic instruments marketed toward parents who are hesitant to drop upwards to a thousand dollars on an instrument for their equally unsure middle schooler. Who knows? Maybe instead of learning how to play the recorder, 4th graders will start picking up trumpets. Everything pInstrument offers comes in a variety of colors and is extremely lightweight, which left me skeptical as to how something so similar to a fake toy can 1) produce the same authentic sound and 2) end up in the office of an associate dean of Hamline University. I sat down with Rundquist in his office surrounded by papers, tall bookshelves, and instruments. He explained to me how he’s been a musician since 6th grade and even showed me a traditional metal bass trombone he’s kept from his childhood. The trombone was bought from Modern Day Music, a small music shop in West St. Paul. He proudly told me that he managed to knock $50 off the price when buying it at the shop. The trumpet was an even better deal as it was a recent Christmas gift from his family. After a couple minutes of learning that backstory, my curiosity got the best of me and I decided to be straightforward and ask him— “Do people ever mistake it as a toy?” He took the mustard yellow trumpet into his hands and laughed. “Oh yeah! Everyone thinks it’s a toy!” Rundquist reminded me to never judge a book by it’s cover, saying, “I’m actually really impressed with it and there’s some really interesting YouTube videos of professional trumpet players playing one of these and I’ve got to tell ya if you closed your eyes you’d never know that it was plastic.” 16 | Canvas
I did in fact Google some videos when I was bored at home that night and can definitely vouch for him. Am I a pTrumpet stan? In true Minnesotan musician fashion, Rundquist mentioned a story he heard from Hamline’s jazz ensemble director Greg Keel, who knew a professional trombone player that used a pBone when playing a gig for Prince. Since the instrument is a budget-friendly $150 it doesn’t have to be handled as delicately by its users. “All the other horns, because it was so cold outside, grew incredibly sharp. So apparently the guy took it and [insert sawing noises here] some of it off so that his instrument could be in tune with everyone else.” So I guess we can add adaptability to the list of pros going for the pBone. When not playing in the jazz ensemble or pep band at Hamline, Rundquist is a proud marching band parent at Henry Sibley High School where his sons attend. I asked him if he’s seen any parents buying some for their students yet. Surprisingly, the answer was no, as the band director at Sibley thinks they look unprofessional and would never let them use them at performances. However, we both agreed that we’ll see middle schoolers carrying plastic over metal in the near future. After that, we can officially consider Andy Rundquist a local trendsetter!
“ DO PEOPLE
EVER MISTAKE IT AS A TOY?
”
