Subject: [Dixielandjazz] The trombone..

[Jim Kashishian]

Graham wrote:
I have tried the slides of quite a few young trombone players recently and I
have found them almost unplayable. 

& I reply:  I have always found this to be a shocking fact....the way a lot
of people play on bad slides.  The slide has to be faster than your hand,
throw - not drag behind.  Anything less moves the complete horn against your
chops, and I don't see how one could play.  Can't repair the slide?  Buy a
new horn, and try gobs of 'em out before buying.  A fixed slide is never,
ever as good.

Graham continues:
No wonder we don't have many young jazz trombonists coming along!

Actually, Graham, trombonists have always been scarce.  A young student can
get a somewhat musical type of sound out of a sax or clarinet within the
first days.  Even a young trumpeter can make music soon.  But, a trombone
student, until he can master the tongue & slide manipulations, won't get
anything but slurs.  And, this can go on easily for the first year.

So, Bob Roman!  Two moving parts, not one on the trombone.  The tongue has
to stop the flow of air at the exact moment the slide is moved or its just
slur, slur, slur.  Therefore, the tongue actually becomes part of the horn.
And, the stacatto & legatto sounds all come from the control of the tongue
releasing air in different manners.  I know it's dificult stuff for a
trumpeter to understand......    

There are fewer new trombonists out there, and always have been.  Most
people go for the easier instruments!

Jim    :>