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[Luftwaffle]

Ok, so I've played trombone 4 years, and I got really tired of it this year, so I quit. Baaad idea, it seems I need to pick up my dusty mouthpiece and welp, I forgot everything! I'm currently having some serious problems, I have try outs in about a month, so I'm not too sure what to do. But any way if any of ya'll could possibly share some websites or something for review of musical and trombone basics I'd greatly appreciate it!

 

tl;dr: I forgot everything musical, have mercy and give me tutorial sites kthxbye.

[takigan]

Positions: http://www.bcband.org/BCHS/information/fin...ts/trombone.gif

 

Music Theory Crash Course:

 

The Bass Clef Staff -

The lines of the staff read GBDFA (Good Boys Do Fine Always).

The first 4 spaces of the staff are F (starting below the staff), then A, C, E (They spell FACE). The last 2 are G & B.

 

Key Signature -

Order of Flats in Key Signature - BEADGCF (Spell 'Bead', then think "Greatest Common Factor" [Like in Math])

Order of Sharps in Key Signature - FCGDAEB (Fat Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Birds)

 

Time Signature (the fraction looking thing next to the Key Signature) -

Top Number - How many beats in each measure (1,2,3,4,6 or 8 most of the time)

Bottom Number - The note that gets the beat (2-Half, 4-Quarter, 8-Eighth)

 

 

Finding the exact positions on the Trombone is a little more complicated than this (check them with a tuner), but here's a rough idea:

 

1st position - All the way in

3rd position - Handle of slide lined up with bell

4th position - ring-hole of slide lined up with bell

7th position - ring-hole of slide lined up with marker that's etched into the silver tubing on the horn-section at the very end of the horn (I can't remember the name of it).

 

2nd position - 2 inches out from 1st

5th position - 3-4 inches out from 4th

6th position - a little less than halfway between 5th and the etched marker that designates 7th.

 

I taught a kid once who forgot everything he learned in the 6th grade over the summer break (he had never really learned it that well to begin with). I made a set of flash cards for him of all the notes in the staff with a cut-out of a staff with the note-heads glued to the front of the card, and the name of the note and fingering written on the back. I had him start out with cards of the basic 6 notes (Bb, F, D, Eb, C, High Bb), and run reps of just those until he had them burned in his memory (also quizzed him by showing him the card, and have him answer by telling me the note-name and playing the note on his horn), then gradually would add in a card or 2 until he had a full Bb major scale, then C, then eventually the whole chromatic scale in 1 octave.

 

Once you've learned yourself a nice chunk of the notes, start hacking through scales that contain all the notes you know (Start with Bb Major, then do C, then Eb, then G, then Ab, then F). http://www.sizemorebrass.com/files/Scales_...phonium_001.jpg

 

Add notes to your flash card routine for the scales that you don't know yet and rehearse yourself. Then try the scale on the horn.

 

Building lip strength:

 

Spend a lot of time on the mouthpiece each day before playing your horn. You want to keep your teeth open wide enough so that you can slide your tongue between your teeth. Start each note with a 'T' sound, using the tongue (think "Too"). Slur High and then slur down low (like a siren or rollercoaster) on the mouthpiece. Start warming up with a Remington Warm-Up sort of like this one: http://image.rakuten.co.jp/actus/cabinet/b...remington02.jpg . Once you've learned how it goes after practicing it on Trombone for awhile, start beginning your daily mouthpiece warm-ups with it before playing on the horn. Do it slurred first, then go back and tongue it.

 

I wish I could find the Chicowiz Flow Studies in Bass Clef, since they're really great, but that's mostly a Trumpet thing so they're mainly only available in Treble Clef (though I'm sure there's a Bass Clef versions out there). I've arranged some Stamp Flow Studies myself for some of my students but they aren't exactly accessible to someone who's just getting back on the horn. Slurs build lip strength. That's the basic idea. Any kind of moving notes that don't have you using the tongue as leverage will help build those muscles.

 

I'd dig up some beginner songs or just easy resources for you, but nothing comes to mind and I don't really have the time right now to research. But this stuff should at least get you off to a good start.

 

Also a note to the more knowledgeable who might read this, yes, some of the things I said aren't exactly entirely 100% true and could probably use some more elaboration to be fully correct or concise, but I tried to make it simple and fast enough for the guy to work together a patchwork job on his playing so he'll be as ready as possible for what he has to do 4 weeks from now.

[Luftwaffle]

Hi!, tryouts turned out to be in May, but the problem is I was busy with other clubs so I still didn't get to practice anyway, I just wanted to ask a question about mouthpiece buzzing, what would be the best way to do it? I've found that as I do buzz, I sometimes pinch my lips a little too much any advice? Also, I'm currently working on the major scales, is that a good place to start?

[Luftwaffle]

Also, I've noticed(sorry for double post) but I've noticed some problems with my tone. That is when I attempt to play a certain note it goes too low than it should, as if something was stuck within the instrument. I've always had this problem, but it seems it's gotten worse due to my rustiness, help?