My son, the trombone player

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

I, too, played the Noblest of Instruments in high school. And it’s true, the trumpets get all the glory, but we reviled them as being silly, superficial things, compared to the fabulous trombone.

In Pep Band (played at football games, etc) our favorite piece was the Hogan’s Heroes March, simply because we had a glorious countermelody; we enjoyed drowning out the trumpet section. I can still see our director, glowering at us and shaking his fist as he make “softer, softer” motions… I say, let the trumpets play louder if they want to be heard!

The worst was “25, or 6 to 4” where we had to go “da-da-da-da DUMP, da-da-da-da-DUMP” through the whole damned song. Talk about tedious.

As for the saxophone, the trombones’ official position was that it was an amusing novelty instrument, but would never amount to anything… :wink:

22

I have a theory (based on long observation) that each type of instrument has its own personality, and that success with any instrument depends in part on matching the personality of instrument to the personality of the players.

Woodwinds are introverts.

Brasses are extroverts (except for the French horns, which are honorary woodwinds)

Flutes are ditzes

Strings are perfectionists

Percussion instruments are nerds (at one time, I drew a parallel with the audio-visual club, but my daughter tells me they have since migrated to the dopier (in all senses) group of the snowboarders)

Harps come from old money

etc.

23

Another former slide boy chipping in. I sucked, though, so I’ll just wave sheepishly and slink off…

24

Congratulations to your son, FaerieBeth.

I was in the band all through middle and highschool.
A very close friend of mine plays trombone. He started playing in Grade 7, then went on to play in highschool. From there, he went on to study music at University. He now earns a living playing his trombone (and composing and arranging music) aboard Carnival Cruise Ships. He is also undergoing the application process so that he can study for his Masters in Music at Leeds University!
So, make sure your son knows that there can be a future in playing a trombone!

Oh, and I was a woodwind player, and I am a severe extrovert…but I played Bass Clarinet, which my bandmates considered an honourary brass instrument :wink:

25

Correction, a King 3B. The mind is the first thing to go.

26

Ah, these new-fangled inventions! Next thing, you’ll be telling me that there are some instruments that work by electricity. 'Tain’t natural, I say.

27

ahem

:smiley:

I’ve been a percussionist for 8 years. But I started with string instruments. Does that factor in?

28

angelabaca, I said that my daughter had given me updated info on that subject…it apparently has changed from when I was in high school…

For the record, I was a (and still am) a choral baritone.