Trombone Tips

• The first step to a great sound is a great breath.

• Take offense to being tense. If your body is tense, it will be reflected in your sound. Stand/sit with great posture but stay nice and relaxed, especially in the arm and shoulder areas.

• SING IN YOUR PRACTICE. Singing allows us to kinesthetically engage in a series of pitches, which in turn gives us a reference point for when we perform on the horn. I personally don't love to sing, but singing in my practice has become one of my go-to methods.

• Listen to professionals. Find different aspects in their playing and reflect: What do you like about it? What do you dislike? How can you sound like that?

• We are imitative creatures. Hang out with more experienced players whenever possible. You never know what you might learn from playing with them. Feel free to chat with them; most players enjoy sharing their experiences.

• Tuners are great; use them. 

• Tuning drones are even better; use them more.

• USE A METRONOME IN YOUR PRACTICE!!! You never stop developing an internal sense of pulse. Even if you think you have a great internal pulse, calibrate it often with a metronome.

• While there are many free resources online that I highly recommend for growth, taking lessons from a private instructor you enjoy working with will accelerate this growth.

• While private lessons are important, they are not a replacement for practice. Taking lessons IN ADDITION to personal practice is how you take advantage of the concepts and adjustments discussed in lessons.