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Never turn down a gig! You never know who you may come in contact with or what great music you may be exposed to. - Always
be early, prepared, and early! Bring all mutes, horns, doubles, mics,
stands, pencils etc...Assure yourself a future gig by making a
good first and lasting impression.
- Understand
the role you are asked to perform. Whether it is bass trombone,
third trombone, or lead trombone, know your responsibilities and
do them with a good attitude.
- Like a prize fighter or pro football player, be warmed up and ready to perform at downbeat. Click here
for a great quick warm-up that I often have to use on the road. It was
written by my friend/mentor/guru Dr. Tom Gibson. Check out his amazing
website, www.TromboneLessons.com
- Keep
your mind open to all kinds of music. Listen to different styles and
genres. You never know what inspiration you might get.
- Make
bad habits disappear by making them a priority. Train yourself to fix
recurring problems at their first sign. If you have intonation
issues with certain partials, drill them with a tuner everyday for a
week and watch them disappear.
- Listen to Tommy Dorsey and learn every ballad he ever recorded. Whether you
are a classical, jazz, or rock-n-roll trombonist, it is your duty to
learn to play this style. Tommy Dorsey has one of the most lyrical
approaches to trombone playing ever. Notice especially his phrase
lengths, slide vibrato technique, and breath control.
- Be
familiar with all aspects of what gig you are about to play. If
you are performing a symphony, learn the history and listen to
recordings of great orchestras performing it. If you are backing up an
artist, listen to his/her music ahead of time and be familiar with the
style concepts.
- Challenge
yourself! All of us have great aspects to our playing. Look for
something you are not so great at and strive to make it better.
- Keep your horn in PERFECT working condition. What Nascar driver would go 180 mph with a sluggish, dented steering wheel?
- Balance
practice time with fun! You cant expect to spend 10 hours in a practice
room and be sane at the end of the day. Go outside, go to a movie,
relax with friends. A healthy mind breeds an inspired, healthy
musician.
- Record
yourself! The best way to understand your own playing is to listen to
yourself. Find a good microphone and some sort of digital or analog
platform and use it in your practice sessions.
- Record your teachers! It is
helpful to record your lessons, so that you may go back and really
understand what he/she has to say. I regret not doing this more!!
- The trombone is an
instrument of incredible power and force but is also capable of
tremendous beauty. Explore each of these moods with creativity.
Don't always be confined to just written music. Improvise, whether by
yourself, with a Play-A-Long, the radio, with friends, whatever!
Improvising will bring natural inclinations to the forefront and
you may be surprised what great things come out of your horn!!
- When it comes to jazz
improvisation, be concious of scales and harmony but do not
overlook the importance of the melody! A musically executed song will often touch a listener more effectively than any improvised
solo.
- Never stop being
musical! Warmp-ups should be musical. Scales should be musical.
Each time you pick up the horn, always think of making music.
- Ever heard of Hal Crook? If not, Check Him Out!!
- Some of the best section
trombone playing occurred on Frank Sinatra's studio recordings. Listen
to the amazing lead trombone playing on those albums! Remember, those
were all live takes.....no Pro Tools!
- When playing in a big band setting in which there is a lead trumpet player, be courteous and respectful. Never turn around if he/she makes a mistake. This is disrespectful and may cause for disruption. Remember, the lead trumpet player was put in that position for a good reason. Follow him/her no matter what your personal musical opinion may be.
- Let your chops rest for a day or two every few weeks. This lets the lips and your mind heal. This is not always advised, but I believe in stepping away from the horn once in a while. It is like hitting the reset button-It reboots your mind and body so that you may approach the horn and music with a new set of memory!
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