Dr. David Mathie
Trombonist, Professor, Arranger
WHY DO MY !*+&$!! TROMBONES SOUND SO BAD???
or,
COMMON TROMBONE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
While the nicer title is the second phrase, what I often hear is the first, and often said in frustration. My usual answer is to smile and say that it could be due to a number of things. Trombones by their nature are large, hard to hold, requiring quite a bit of air, and dependent upon a sometimes awkward hand slide, and if not played correctly can sound worse than any other instrument in the band. But, there is hope!
There are some pedagogical solutions to problems that will help your trombones sound better. The most common problems are: improper use of the air, poor embouchure and tension in the body, followed by improper articulation, poor coordination between the tongue and the slide, and damaged and/or poor equipment.
I dove into these issues in a 2013 clinic for the MENC All-Northwest Conference in Portland, Oregon titled Taming Terrible Trombone Tone. The handout I created goes into quite a bit of detail on this topic and should be helpful for teachers seeking to "make those people back there sound better."
There are some pedagogical solutions to problems that will help your trombones sound better. The most common problems are: improper use of the air, poor embouchure and tension in the body, followed by improper articulation, poor coordination between the tongue and the slide, and damaged and/or poor equipment.
I dove into these issues in a 2013 clinic for the MENC All-Northwest Conference in Portland, Oregon titled Taming Terrible Trombone Tone. The handout I created goes into quite a bit of detail on this topic and should be helpful for teachers seeking to "make those people back there sound better."
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