Before any ugly rumors begin to start circulating around the Blogaspher, I need to make a confession to my readers……I own, and currently playing a TROMBONE! (Thunderous gasps of disbelief were heard throughout the galaxy).
Yes, it is true that for Christmas my loving wife gave me my Christmas request, a trombone. Now this is not an average garage sale trombone. This is one of the very popular PBones which come in various colors. Our nod was given to the deep blue variety with hopes I will be able to play the blues in the truest fashion.
Trombone is not new to me but it has been more than thirty years since I had one in my hand and the thought of struggling through the Arban book now on TROMBONE made me question my current state of mind. For decades I have been able to resist the temptation to join the dark side of the musical universe but the urge was too strong.
You may be asking yourself……Why?
As one gets older, we decide to live life on the edge and I couldn’t think of a more cutting edge, “life to the fullest” instrument than the Tbone. Besides I tried learning the Dobro and failed miserably. Why not start on an instrument that I have at least had some experience.
The transfer of slide position to valve combination was easy for I learned to play the trombone in treble cleff, (which I have corrected, now reading Bass and treble clef). All first position slide is the same as open valves, second position (second valve), first valve (third position), etc. Working the slide in and out is going to be work but not half as bad as learning how to use three picks on my fingers and thumb without poking my eye out playing the Dobro!
So, you may ask, what does this have to do with a trumpet site? Listen grasshopper and thou shall learn the secrets of the universe.
Here are some obvious findings-
1. THE TROMBONE MOUTHPIECE IS BIGGER!
I know this does not come as a shock to you but the larger trombone mouthpiece involves more muscle area than the trumpet mouthpiece and for that reason, playing on the larger mouthpiece has some true value. I remember when I was in High School, I took a couple trumpet lessons from a very fine player in the area and before each lesson, Don would buzz on a trombone mouthpiece. I asked him about the routine and said that he played trumpet with a more relaxed embouchure if he first buzzed on the trombone mouthpiece. He also mentioned that he was able to utilize his air stream in a more relaxed fashion after using the larger mouthpiece. Of course I thought he was nuts and stuck that bit of information back in the file marked “read only if you have nothing else to do some day”.
After playing now for about a week on my beautiful blue plastic….Oh, I forgot to mention that the PBone is made of plastic, even the mouthpiece…….I have noticed that I have not suffered from stiff chops. It could be that dear Don was on the right track after all.
2. THE TROMBONE REQUIRES MORE AIR!
Now there is another pearl of wisdom. After this past week, I have learned more about breathing than any other time playing as a trumpet player. The added amount of air being circulated through a trombone is like the amount of gas rushing through my beloved 1969, C10 Chevy street rod with its four barrel carburetor fully engaged in a drag. The amount of air squirting through my trumpet would be similar to the amount of gas being squeezed through the intake manifold of a Scion iQ EV.
I may be premature to make any statements about the pros and cons of venturing to the dark side so for now, I will just mention that my interests in playing trombone, seriously, are very unlikely but if playing it will help my readers, I am more than willing to sacrifice my dignity and reputation as a trumpet player in order to further our cause.
Stay tuned as this saga continues to unfold.
I am delighted that you have turned to the dark side. On a whim I gave my trombone-playing husband a Pbone for Christmas, too. His regular horn is a symphonic Olds Opera in a coffin case and it weighs a ton. The case takes up a lot of the trunk in our car. We visit extended family about 6 hours away at Christmas and try to encourage the musical youngsters by playing Christmas tunes with them for a “family night” activity. The Pbone was perfect for that. Easy to carry, store, and a pleasent sound, easy to reign in for a softer sound in a home.
It was also good for a “hoot” at our senior citzen’s band Christmas pot luck/ rehearsal. It is hard not to smile when self-proclaimed ‘El Trumbono’ picks up his Big Red Plastic Trombone. There is an old saying in the US Army, (we are old army vets – bothus)… “If you are gonna be one…you might as well be a big red one.” I am definately talking about the historic 1st Division, not anything else you might imagine.
Now, I find myself curious about the trombone. Dear Husband is teaching me scales on the Pbone. It is very pleasing and kind of relaxing. I usually spend a few minutes on it after our practice time together. It feels good when I am tired from trumpet playing, kind of a cool down, like from aerobic exercise. That silly clear acrylic mouthpiece is always warm and easy on my lips. And it rekindled in him a desire to play a small-bore horn. He just bought a King 3B and we are back playing jazz from the Real Book.
Keep us informed. I don’t feel like this casual use of the Pbone will do me any harm, but I’d like to hear what you have to say about your walk on the wlid side.
I have found the same advantages with cooling down. I’ve been on the horn now for a couple weeks and I seem to have better trumpet chops because of it.
The trombone players in town have suggested that I go to a true trombone mouthpiece for a more trombone sound and I agree with the idea. I’ll be looking around for a bone mouthpiece on E bay this month.
Does your husband use the plastic mouthpiece or is he using his bone mouthpiece?
He uses his regular mouthpiece. It creates a more typical trombone sound. For him, the acrylic mouthpice creates a softer, less edge, a kind of mumbled voice. Still a nice sound.
I get him to play the acrylic one sometimes just to see what his embouchure is like interior to the mouthpiece. It amazes me to see how much the opening for the airstream can vary in the larger mouthpiece. For the cost of a couple nights out, we’ve both had a lot of fun with it.
Keep me informed and I will try to write a follow up on my progress.
Stay well and say hello to your husband for me.
I am a trumpet player that doubles on valve bone a vintage King 2B with a slide but never use the slide ,Ijust like the sound of the valve for Jazz. Bobby Brookmyer & Rob McConnellsounded pretty good& played in tune I was so happy to find so many trumpet players interested in the Valve .a great sound I enjoy is playing with a tenor Sax so you have to play in tune.I played A King 3B but found it harder to fill up with air, the smaller 2B was perfect.I find the mouthpiece is the most important issue ,the Parduba 3 Star is easy to play ,good sound but it bothers my chops maybe I have to work with more.The Schilke 40 B feels better ,I prefer the Parduba if I can may it work it is a double cup that could be the problem.Getting back to the Trumpet I find it bothers my chops so I will switch to Flugelhorn ,I am talking about small Jazz groups. When I know I have big band 1st&2nd I don’t touch the bone,I just wanted to pass my opinion for what it worth—–Lou
Thanks for sharing your information. Most trumpet/trombone switchers prefer the easy valve switch rather than learning the slide. I prefer the slide because most valve trombones are badly out of tune. If yours is OK for pitch, you’re lucky.
A colleague of mine (Ashley Alexander) worked with Maynard to develop the first Super Bone which let you use either the slide or the valves. Don Ellis would have loved it for his quarter tone style of playing.