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[SMunger]

Hi Steve, know where we can get a look at and buy your duets?

Thanks for the interest! They're still in manuscript! I'm slowly transferring the more worthwhile pieces that I wrote decades ago onto the computer - I'll try and do those duets soon & upload a PDF. It's just 3 pieces.

[sukangorok]

Hi! I'm Arnold and I'm from Indonesia (I think I might be the first one too).
I'm a third grader in senior high school, though not for long now because I'm having my final exam starting today.
I've been around here for a while and found that this forum is a very good place so I decided to join.

I've been playing brass for almost 6 years. Started as a baritone player in my junior high's marching band. Played baritone for 2 years then switched to tuba. Played tuba for 2 years and switched to trombone. It was a coincidence actually, I was just goofing around, trying all of the instruments in my school. When I played the trombone, I fell in love with it. So here I am trying to be as good as I can be with this lovely instrument.

I play in one of Indonesia's best youth orchestra that is Twilite Youth Orchestra (yes,it's twilite not twilight ). I'm first chair there. I also played in my school's wind ensemble and sometime I played with other groups who need an amateur trombonist. Please don't compare Indonesia's brass playing to your country's. Most of your college students will be better than Indonesia's professional trombonist. 

I want to be better and better in my playing so I really appreciate all the stuffs in this forum. Hope I can contribute something to this forum as well. Thanks!

Best regards,
Arnold

[ToneBone]

Hi all,

This is my first post here and I'd like to introduce myself a little. I'm a 44 year old Irishman who has played around with guitar, bass and latterly, keyboard for a few years. All playing is for my own enjoyment and have never 'inflicted' my music on anybody for various reasons. So anyway, my latest musical quest, is to embark on an unknown journey. That of the Trombone. Having been inspired by watching Tremé, I feel drawn towards it but won't know how strong that draw actually is at least until I pick one up and attempt my first note. There are a couple of things that intrigue me, mainly the 'non-linear' scale. Changing non consecutive positions as a scale is played just seems totally illogical when compared to the keyboard especially, but I guess that's just one of the charms of the trombone.

I'm really delighted to have found such a wonderful resource as this. As is the case with most every forum for instruments, it's a community where I see everyone is pulling in the same direction and helping and wanting others to improve by sharing their knowledge and experience. I'm still a little surprised that I was able to choose ToneBone as a username. I tried a couple before hitting on this, fully expecting it to be already taken.

There's a very real awareness of the notion of 'buy cheap-buy twice', but I obviously don't want to spend a whole lot until I get a handle on things and know whether I'm going to stick with it or not. If and when I get to the point where I know I've been bitten and smitten, then I'll be much more open to the idea of spending a bit of time and money in finding and buying a good quality horn. One option, probably my best, would be to find a pBone and get a few basics down and then I'd always have a good fun instrument as a back-up of sorts. Finding a pBone, however, is something of an issue of late for all wanting one, though.

Whether what follows that will be new, or something a little more 'aged' that will be a choice I'll make at the time. I've no problem with the idea of buying something that's been around the block a few times, as long as it's playing properly and not suffering the ravages of time. I quite like the idea of buying something of my own 'vintage' From 1967. I realise I may be getting ahead of myself here, but that's just an ideal. I am, however, as you can read, thinking positively and being optimistic that I'll be in the position to buy a proper instrument.

Living in Ireland, unfortunately means there's extremely little choice for either new or secondhand models immediately available. There is one specialist woodwind instrument shop in the whole country who only order in trombones when there's a confirmed sale for them. The owner, while knowledgable, was rather dour and prickly, so I don't feel I'm missing anything by not going in there again! Most of the music shops around deal only with the usual ranges of guitars, keyboards and drums, with brass instruments being a very narrow niche. An afterthought, if any at all.

To date, well, yesterday, actually, was the first time I ever held a trombone in my hands. I went around the music shops of Dublin and found the sum total of one singular trombone! The model itself was a Conn-Selmer Prelude which I've searched for here and have not been very encouraged by what I read. The sales assistant was very helpful and gave me a number for a teacher in my area. Having a teacher with nothing to practice on from day to day is a bit mad. But at least I hope to be able to go there and get hands on, or rather lips on contact.


There are online sales, but there's too much at risk where trombones are concerned to be able to make a reasoned and considered opinion. With so much being dependent on feel and hearing, it's not something a learner or intermediate player could do with any confidence when there's a considerable amount of money to be parted with. The only exception I'd be willing to make to that would be to seek the assistance of well respected TTF member DJ Kennedy to find something that fits my criteria. The only issue then would be carriage to Ireland. That could well turn out to be a deal killer.

In the meantime, I've been trying to immerse myself in as much inspirational music as possible and Jack Teagarden and Tommy Dorsey are two legendary performers whose style I like and that I've got to get plenty of.  In the more modern era, Trombone Shorty, who I've seen perform a few times on TV is certainly helping the popularity of the instrument. Watching more and more of Tremé has really stoked my interest, and, as mentioned above, is what brought this on in the first place. The music in every episode is just magnificent, and I would defy anyone to watch it and not move, or be moved with the plight of the many stories emanating from the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. A truly wonderful series.

Following on from the Tremé influence, I've been looking for and finding compilations of New Orleans music, which has brought about a great variety stuff, whether trombone/brass related or not. Jazz, Soul, Funk and not least my first love, which is Blues. They manage to bring so many genres together in New Orleans into its own indefinable style. There are so many more artists I want to listen to, but thankfully, iTunes, with its 90 second previews, and Grooveshark are absolutely ideal for checking out new leads without having to pay out hard-earned cash on discovering you may have bought something that didn't deliver on the expectations. I just need to stop buying for a while so I can actually afford an instrument for myself! 

Anyway, with the help of all here, I'm looking forward to the journey. I'm ready to hitch a ride with all those who wish to impart their knowledge, and do the same for anyone I can help in whatever way I can. Even if that's sharing a laugh at my own expense with some silly mistake I've made and helping some other beginner avoid that particular mistake. Don't worry, I'm not looking to corner the market on that, there's still plenty of their own to make! 

I just hope I can stick around long enough to do my username justice.

Yours, in Music

Damien



P.S. A special hello to RedHotMama who assisted me when I registered here.

[RedHotMama]

Hello, Damien! Welcome aboard!

I strongly recommend that you get in touch with our member Tomahawk, a computer programmer who lives in - yep - Dublin, Ireland. He owns three trombones and would surely be able to help with tracking down a reasonable one in your area.

http://tromboneforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=4093

I understand your problem about finding a decent music store - there are far more selling guitars, keyboards and drums than anything else. However, if you CAN find one, rather than buying a pBone I would try instrument rental. You can rent a "proper" brass instrument for a number of months and if you then decide to keep it, the amount you have already spent is taken off the cost of buying it. The pBones, fun though they are, lack quality control and their faults can be many and variable. Sometimes, the bell drops off. With mine, it's the annoyance of the slide going "tick" every time it comes back to the closed position (and this is after an hour of careful work with a file!).

You have given an awful lot of information in your post, so I hope that you'll split up your various questions and put them into the relevant sections. You should be aware that (even though I don't understand it myself!!!), not all members read the Practice Break, so you'll get more replies in what I call the "serious sections".

I look forward to seeing your future posts!

[RedHotMama]

Apologies to Arnold!

Welcome to you too!

I saw your posts about the Hagmann valve - how is it going?

It's great to see a member from Indonesia. As you say, I think you might be the first, and it's always good for a forum, particularly one which comprises a high proportion of one nationality (in this case, American), to interact with people who may have a different perspective on music (both as a hobby and as a profession) and on life, the universe and everything....

[ToneBone]

Hi,

Thanks for the warm welcome, RedHotMama. By the way, I like your signature, a nice little twist on the classic, but every bit as appropriate.

Great to know there's at least another member from Dublin on here. I thought there would be, but  when I tried to search, nothing came up. I obviously wasn't doing something right.

What you say about the pBone is everything that scares me about buying something unseen. It's a lottery. There are plenty who have got good ones, but they weren't chosen, they just got lucky. It would eventually, if not immediately lead to resentment and disillusionment and ultimately lack of enthusiasm to practice. I don't want to be running down all of them, tarring them all with the same brush, but money's scarce enough without spending it on something that could lead to a dead end.

I wasn't aware that money spent on a rental instrument could be taken off from a purchase. That breathes new life into that possibility. Thank you.

My extensive ramblings (I hope everyone is still awake after that) in my first post are mere observations and thoughts to give some idea of where I'm coming from - and I don't mean Dublin I was hoping to find a thread like this so I could introduce myself, rather than jumping in feet first in the 'serious sections'. No doubt I'll have plenty of questions to ask when I get acquainted with some brassware.

Now that that's out of the way, I'll get in touch with Tomahawk and see what he says about the prospect of helping find a trombone, whether rented or otherwise.

Damien

[Oli T]

Hello there!

I'm Oliver, nice to be here.

Due to an injury sustained last year which put me off my other past-time (Diving) for a couple of months I started thinking about playing the trumpet - and then I came to my senses.

I'd played the trombone as a young teen, some 35 yeas ago, so it made sense to pick that back up. Did some good research (on these pages) and carefully bought a bone on ebay. 5 months on I'm a little unsure what I want to do with it other than play it for joy of playing it but I really enjoy playing it and am improving all the time. As a kid I didn't like the odd Oompah music that the town band I played with was playing, though I did like playing, and had no idea how to find the music I did like - if I even knew what music I did like, so ended up dispirited with it and eventually stopped playing. Now with the internet and youtube, and 20 years spent dancing in the clubs of London, I've got a great idea of what I like and how to find it. Found a private teacher, got a neat practice space nearby, and settled into a class at the local adult ed centre...

Sadly I now know that I wont be playing hot latin breaks any time soon, but hopefully I'm on the right track.....
Anything that's got a groove and makes me want to shake my hips is fine by me.
Sadly my hips have a bit of arthritis from having shaken them a bit too much, oh, and falling off mountain bikes, oh - and skateboards..... so the dancing's taken a bit of a back seat for a while - though I still shake a leg every now and then, if the music grabs me.

Gotta go now but hope to contribute in some way in the future.

Cheers!

[ottisthetrombonist]

Good day!  I'm Lee Dise.  Originally, from Newport News, VA.  Lived all over the country.  Done all sorts of things.  Finally settled down across the river from Newport News, in Virginia Beach.  I studied at various colleges, have a degree in music from Wichita State (1976) and did some graduate work in Pittsburgh, where I studied with some of the Pittsburgh Symphony guys -- Bob Hamrick, Bill McGlaughlin, and the late B.B. McCulloh.  Spent four years at the Travis AFB band in Fairfield, CA.  Met my lovely wife there, the former Debbie Wallace from Glendora, CA, and have been happily married for 23 years.  I've been playing trombone for so long, I ought to be good at it by now.  I haven't given up quite yet.

I met Bill on the bus today! Hes a pretty awesome guy

[Allan Hunt]

ooops, started a new thread to say hi,


hi again


cheers

[WilliamMuckle]

Hello all,

I am new to this forum. My name is William Muckle. I am a senior. About to graduate and start at University of Tennessee at Knoxville in the fall. I mainly play bass trombone. I am going to UTK under a double major, Music Education and Music Theory/Composition.

[TromPhysics]

Hi all!

I've already posted a bit, but I figured I should properly introduce myself. The name's Andrew Mitchell, from Norfolk, VA. I picked up my first horn 4 years ago as a sophomore in high school, after playing violin for 5 years. l just finished my freshman year as a music education student at Virginia Commonwealth University. This summer I'm performing as the bass trombonist at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. Next september I will be moving to Wales to begin a bachelor's degree in Physics with Music at Cardiff University. Although I'm happily employed as a bass trombonist, before now I had only ever played tenor.
I play a Conn 88HT with a Greenhoe valve, and keep an old Bach Mercedes II for the little jazz I do play.

To sum up:
Horn: Conn 88HT Greenhoe
Time playing: 4 years
Employment: Bass trombonist @ Busch Gardens
Previous School: VCU, Music Ed
Current School: Cardiff University, Wales, Physics with Music.

Nice to meet everyone!

[jay1973]

hi i joined this site to ask if anyone can offer some info on a trombone i was left by a family member who died its a besson of 198 euston road london,it has flowers all over the bell part and marked with "class A" and prototype but does not have any serial number!its very tarnished so not sure if its silver plate or not and no idea of the age many thanks jay kennard.............

[RedHotMama]

Hello and welcome to Oliver, Allan, William, Andrew and Jay!

Jay, to have a better chance of getting answers to your instrument question, please post it again up in the Instruments section. Thanks!

[buzzoff1031]

Ok, so I'm technically not new...but I may as well be. I will consider myself a newb. I joined a while back, but haven't really been active at all (this includes with my playing). So, I know there's a lot here, but I'm looking forward to getting acclimated and learning a lot here.

[RedHotMama]

Hi Buzz.

I would call you by your right name, but you haven't provided it....

Welcome as a newb!

[buzzoff1031]

Hi Buzz.

I would call you by your right name, but you haven't provided it....

Welcome as a newb!

'Tis Chris

[Dennis Clason]

Hi.  Thanks for the welcome.

I'm Dennis Clason.  I'm a trombone junkie living and working in southern New Mexico, Las Cruces to be exact.  I support my music habit as a professor of Applied Statistics at New Mexico State University.  I play tenor trombone in the Mesilla Valley Concert Band, the Big Band on the Rio Grande and bass in the Borderland 'Bone Quartet.  In the past I've played in the Las Cruces Symphony and the Santa Fe Community Orchestra.

My favorite playing genre is brass quintet, but I haven't been able to keep a quintet going for more than 2- 3 years.

I've done some transcriptions for the quartet, and that has been fun.

My arsenal consists of a 1972 Bach 36B, which is currently getting an overhaul.  I'll report on the overhaul when I get it back.  For jazz, I play a 1956 King 3B with both valve and slide sections.  My bass is a 1972 Bach 50 (Grendel) that's been so heavily modified (not by me!) that the factory wouldn't recognize it.  Grendel has O.E. Thayer valves 19 and 20.  I guess they belong in a museum, but I'll keep playing them until it's time for Grendel to get an overhaul.

[Basso]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum as well. My name is Bart, I'm 25 years old and from the Netherlands (very, very close to Germany and Belgium though).
I'm a freelance bass trombonist, occasionally playing the tenor. Also, I'm pretty active in the early music scene, studying (bass) sackbut at the Cologne conservatory with Wim Becu.
Well, I'm pretty interested in all kinds of historic stuff and am going to do my master thesis on the history and development of the bass trombone and its siblings. Until now, I've already found a lot of interesting things, not in the last place on this forum.
Well, thanks for having me!! 

Cheers,
Bart

[RedHotMama]

Hi to Dennis and Bart!

We look forward to reading your questions, opinions and information in all corners of the forum.

[dj kennedy]

 
STEVE   WEIST  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!