Returning Player

[JetMech]

Hi all,

I'm just returning after a long(15 year?) hiatus. I played through college and ceased once I moved into apartment living and had to contend with adjoining walls. After we moved the last time I decided to get back to playing again. Working through getting my chops back to where they were when I was playing every day, and enjoying the journey. Once I get to the point where I won't embarrass myself too bad, I plan on getting in with a local community band.

Currently in my paddock:
Conn 8H(mid to late 60s vintage, going off what I can still read of the serial number)
Olds Custom(1973-74 timeframe)
Besson Sovereign 944
Besson Sovereign 940

Looking forward to engaging with this community, seems like a good group.

-JetMech

[Kingfan]

Welcome back!

[JetMech]

Thanks so much! I've been having a blast playing again. This community has already been a huge help as I sift through equipment I bought all those years ago. I worked in a music store in college and was way into the gear side of things.

[cb56]

Any suggestions for a method book for returning players? Been about 7 years.

[JetMech]

I've been using the Rubank intermediate book. It's got a good balance of exercises along with melodic things. I've found long tones and articulation exercises especially helpful in building some of those muscles back up after my hiatus. I would definitely check over in the Teaching/Learning section of this forum. There is a ton of good information there as well.

[StephenK]

I think you would find Unlocking the Trombone Code by Ian Bousfield useful as a daily visit, cycling through a part of each section daily.

[balkansobranie]

Welcome back. I posted here a few months ago in much the same position as you, returning to the Trombone after almost 20 years away. I must say while it felt a bit heavy going for the first couple of weeks, I am now quite suprised just how quickly it has all come back to me and how well things are progressing. I think plenty of short sessions several times a day is the way to go if you can manage it. I've now settled down to a 20 minute morning warm up and then 40 - 60 minutes later on, at first though I was doing much shorter "mini sessions" and I stopped if things became sore. I also avoided using too much pressure for high notes initially (and indeed didn't too much high playing at all for the first month).

I used a combination of various books for warm ups and exercises. Variety is a good thing to keep the mind engaged.

After playing for a few weeks at a local wind band I've felt a big improvement in stamina, so I would recomend getting yourself a weekly blow somewhere if you can after a while - it is also good for keepign the motivation to practice.

Happy playing.

[JetMech]

Thanks for the words of encouragement all! I've actually been fortunate enough to find a community band to play with once a week, so that's given me a place to work on building up my endurance(and intonation, haha). balkansobranie, I've been doing just that, short sessions rather than long slogs.

StephenK, I appreciate the book reference, I'll check it out!