The Remington long tones are excellent, but just a start. Back when I was doing 4-6 hours of practice a day (I call it my apprentice years), I was doing at least an hour of long tones, only about 8 minutes of them based on the Remington. In the mid 70's, Phil Teele and I would get together after a r...

It really varies. For awhile, the bigger orchestras were competing over big equip, bigger mpcs, big loud bass trombone sounds. I think that changed in the late 1990's early 2000's. Now I think the examples being led by Boston, NYC (don't know about Chicago or others) is to use the instrument that fi...

Going with what Bruce said about having the slide in exactly the right position to get the overtone in tune. If you are using a tuner, do not find the position for those low notes (the 2nd partial) by tuning in that register, instead tune the note 1 octave higher (4th partial, and even the 8th parti...

What works for me (advice from Jeff Reynolds) is to form an embouchure and (without buzzing) touch the mpc to your lips. I do it in increasing lengths -- 1 second, 2, 4, 8, 16. As the entrance gets closer, do the same thing but blowing warm air into the instrument as Bruce suggested.

I had the privilege of hearing GR in concert in 1963 while a HS school student, then again in 1965, 1966, and 1968. I did not exactly have a lesson, but in those last few years I sat with him in receptions (drinking a lot of scotch with him) pulling out my Bach 1.5 G and having him tell me how great...

One of the best tuba players in town uses an oversize Eb with valves that throw it into BBb and who knows where else. All Ebs are not the same. I use a 3/4 size Weril BBb most of the time I am called for tuba, very similar to the same size Yamaha, plays about the same as the Yamaha and is a lot chea...

The ITA Journals have found a new home

I am downsizing and have decided to get rid of my ITA Newsletters and Journals. I have been a member since the beginning and have Volume 1, No. 1 (1973) to Volume 46, No. 4 (2018). Probably a 100 or more publications. Only missing Volume 27, No. 2 (1999) and Volume 46, No 3 (2018). They are free to ...

Was the LS mayde for Jeff? There's also the Ferguson Jeff Reynolds which Minick Made for Jeff. Little bigger on the Rim than the L but with a smaller Backbore. I think Ferguson posted on the old trombone bulletin board that the LS was made for Jeff. It wouldn't surprise me that Jeff worked with Lar...

I find I get a better overall result on a 1 1/4G. If I'm playing low on a large tenor or want my bass to sound like a large tenor, I use a Ferguson V, which is close to a 1 1/2G, I think on the slightly smaller side.... The Ferguson V is a copy that Kanstul made of the Minick V. I got one of the fi...

I just listened to Nelson Riddles "The Joy Of Living" album in it's entirety on YouTube. Wow! What a tour-de-force for GR. Definitely a sound to emulate! How much "sweetening" was done in the recording studios in that period (late 50's-early 60's)? For those of you that played with or heard George ...

He's also wearing a sword of some kind, which seems unlikely. They're pretty expensive, and musicians have rarely made enough money for luxuries like that. Musicians as late as the Civil War were issued swords. It was not unusual for a field musician to be armed.. When I was in an Army band during ...

Your lungs will not change size, but how you do breathing exercises will help. David Vining has a great book about that http://www.mountainpeakmusic.com/breathing-book-for-tenor-trombone/ You Tube stuff as well. Over my 50 years of pro playing I have borrowed and created lots of exercises. You can p...

I know nothing about this stuff, but I immensely enjoyed seeing my old friend, mentor, and trombone idol Miles Anderson endorsing this product. If Miles likes it you know it is good, if he didn't like it those who know (the very eloquent Miles) know he would use the most profane words in the America...

One of my favorite Dick Nash ad lib solos is Mr. Lucky on Tuttis Trombones.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wPyvjbedo8&list=PLTwSK3gTU8estI0rMg2xtYcXgFKJ7Y964&index=28&t=0s. So well constructed, virtuostic, musical, true to the harmonies. The cup mute solo by Rosolino that follows is pretty good too...

One of my first gigs moving to San Diego was playing with the SD Sym... Janocek Sinfonietta. I was playing 4th I think, and the regular bass trombonist in the last year of 30 was playing 3rd. At that time we were on the old plywood risers (the orch has upgraded to permanent risers, more substantial....

1st laugh out loud with your section players that some idiot arranger doesn't get it

2nd I just do it with dynamics, super soft for the closed notes, louder for the open. Like the doo-wah singers of the 1950's

Just tell the uninformed that he is "The March King". Then try to explain what march music is. That should take up your waiting time at the Blood Bank.

At a rehearsal tonight I asked the Bari player if he has seen a bari sax for sale without the Low A Key.

"Hell no," he said. "That is like seeing a bass trombone without 2 valves"

Showing my age, as a kid, both of those were very expensive options. Now normal.

50 years ago in college I had trouble with that note and the Gb below it (on bass trombone). For the past 45 years no problem at all on Bach, Conn, King, and Shires. Why is it fixed? I needed to fix me (now, the uproarious comments about being "fixed"). It is called "practice" and "ear-training". Th...

HAHA brilliant. I think I watched every episode of The Flintstones at about the same time I started playing trombone, I do not remember seeing that before.

After more than 50 years as pro musician/teacher I feel lucky to say I never had any other work. Retired now, lucky to have both an AFM pension and Soc Sec from my many years. I am not sure that is the future for younger pros than me, but I hope for that. The only "day job" I ever had was slinging h...

After seeing and hearing George Roberts live in the late 60's and talking with him I was amazed how his soft sound could project (without mic) to the last seat in an auditorium. He said it was all about the song and singing it clearly. My humble attempts using his solos in various venues, I put his ...

I got music glasses about 20 years ago. I took a music stand and music to my optometrists office and he had great fun using the old click and fit lenses (rather than the computerized stuff). It worked great for all my pro work, but now that I am retired I prefer putting my bifocals in my pocket, bri...

Can't say I am 100% with the concept, have to hear it, play it, etc. But I am 100% behind your ambition to experiment and try something new. All the pictures show you are an accomplished brass technician. I love watching the progress of your endeavor and I wish you success.

For my bass trombone, Bonna for over 10 years now. I have had several RU bags and BAM. Bonna fits in the overhead of most planes, great protection, light, easy to carry.

For my King Silversonic 3B, I love the classic coffin alligator style case. Inefficient, I know. Retrograde rocks.

I talked to Miles on the phone a couple of years ago. He moved from Encinitas (San Diego area) to San Francisco. His wife has Parkinson's and as it progressed they moved to be nearer a therapist who specializes in treatment. Most of his time then was as a caregiver. When he moved he sent me a box of...

A few years ago, as an observer, I noticed that even on a trombone site there were people attacking other people's posts, vicious personal attacks even by (allegedly) "pro" musicians, trolls, etc. So when I enrolled I wanted to protect myself and my family from these horrible posts so I just used my...

One time I was subbing in a major orchestra and during rehearsal the guest conductor stopped and addressed the trombones, "Please, play as if this is the morning sunrise, the sun glistening on the dewy leaves!" We played a little bit more, "Trombones, as if the love of your life gazed into your eyes...

...There was also one comment that went something like "Oh! Nice contrast between the Bass Trombone and the rest of the Band!! Well Done!!!"... Reminds me of a story a friend of mine told me, don't know if it was true. He was listening to a live radio broadcast of the CSO, the bass trombone was obv...

2 stories: 1. Played the Requiem many times (on bass), one time we were called to play and a free-lance friend of mine, new in town, was excited to play alto on his newly acquired Minick alto. At the rehearsal the conductor (who we long time locals knew was a musical fool, even though he had the loc...

Generally I charge per lesson, but I have had many students take advantage of what I call "Tuition". They pay for 10 lessons in advance, but are charged for 9. IOW buy 9, 10th is free. 2 advantages: 1. Parents prefer this because it keeps them from writing checks over and over for basically a semest...