Trombone

[Nowtasstrangeasfolk]

My ds is keen to learn the trombone, and I have said when he goes into y3 in September he can learn it then.

Do trombones come in different sizes? Is it a problem with missing teeth? He can play get sound out of a trumpet, but hasn't been taught on it.

Any other advice on learning the trombone gratefully received.

Oh good I'll have a look for one then.

BTW has anyone hired an instrument from the Music County Service? Are they any good? Or have they been mistreated and so don't work well? Or are cheap ones that you shouldn't touch?

hire from music service first, then buy if it goes well. I haven't seen a small size one, but teach from Y4 trombone. Kids can't reach 6th position usually to begin with, but they grow fast!!!!
I personally like teeth to be fully formed, but the jury is out on this. Some teachers don't mind.
Is he tall or short for his age?? Trombone great instrument to learn though.

Very tall for his age. His middle four adult teeth are all halfway through at the moment.

Tall=Good
Teeth through=Good by Sept probably!

Which music service would you have?

There are new plastic trombones which people are raving about because they are light, cheap, brightly coloured. They look tremendous and I am told also sound very good.

www.pbone.co.uk

Ds2 has a pBone, they are absolutely fabulous. However, teachers don't seem that keen on using them outside Wider Ops and for higher grades.

DS 1 and 2 both play trombone. DS1 played trumpet until last year, got to Grade 5 and switched to trombone.

DS 2 started last September aged 8. I think the teeth depend on your teacher, ours said its guesswork what kind of brass players they are until they get their teeth. But then I was desperately hoping he would be a trumpet player as we had 2 of those at home!

We have hired 2 trombones, 1 from County Music Service and 1 from DS1 school and they are fine. DS 1 has used his pbone a bit, (he got it for Christmas) but as he was practising for his Grade Exam didn't use it a lot. He is now upgrading to a hired one with a fancy bit, apparently, that turns it into a bass trombone.

A friend who plays in the local orchestra, has found her old student one in perfect condition in her loft, and has said we can borrow that until we're sure he wants to continue. Result!

BTW she said that she believed due to muscle groups there was a conflict on interest between learning trombone and clarinet. Anyone know whether this is true?

No trombones here, but DD1 has a clarinet from the County music service - Surrey. It's almost new, seems perfectly fine, has a decent case and was very cheap!

Dh teaches trombone....ditto everything 1805 says!

Ds1 started learning trombone in yr 4. He used to balance it on a chair at times as it was too heavy for him. Dh has just bought a plastic trombone. Someone he knows makes them. They are obviously light and they do work! Ds1 used to take it to school orchestra.

Note to self to read thread properly as someone has already mentioned plastic trombones!

In fact several people have mentioned them.
Dh bought it for fun - he is actually trumpet player. He has played in a show where the trombonist was using plastic one. Sounded fine.

Schilke - does he recommend phones?? Always keen to get good advice on new stuff.

Re: muscle groups - I was always told no to brass and flute , but I would think at beginner level, it wouldn't make too much difference tbh.

I would also say thickness of lips more to do with choosing a brass instrument rather than teeth formation. (thick/big lips = lower brass, thinner/smaller lips = higher brass).

Re OP post - try to sit with him and make sure the slide positions are accurate to start with, until he gets used to where they are. [:)]

Happy playing!!

Ok got it wrong. Dh does not know maker of plastic trombone - a friend was consulted a bit on it....need to pay more attention to brass talk instead of hearing blah blah blah mouthpiece blah blah blah mouthpiece.

Dh says lots of professional trombonists seem to like the pBone - it sounds just like a trombone. It is fantastic for children as it is so lightweight & therefore more portable. Also it is more durable, no dents and slide problems. The slide is a bit slower than on a brass trombone.However, for higher grades it is not the done thing! Turning up to youth orchestra with a red plastic trombone might get you some funny looks! Once you reach grade 5 level you are taking it a bit more seriously, so out with the plastic and in with the brass.

Actually DS1 takes his yellow pBone to Concert Band, so he can leave his brass trombone at school as he has bands there each side of that evening, if you see what I mean. It is much admired. Apparently you can superglue them together if they do break

Clarinet and Trombone, DS2 learns this combination. He already played clarinet to about Grade 2ish standard, and has whizzed along with trombone to about the same standard on 6 months. I queried the wisdom of him learning both. The music curriculum teacher at school plays both flute and trombone and said no-one had ever said to her she shouldn't learn both together, and certainly it suits DS2. He plays clarinet in school and Youth Orchestra and Trombone in Junior windband