[Trombone-l] An alto neophyte asks for it.

[Dave Demko]

Tenor trombone is and will remain my principal ax, but I'm considering
taking up alto and would welcome some informed advice. Even if the
advice is "don't."

My notion is to have alto as an option for chamber music with trombone
quartets and mixed brass ensembles. I want to be able to play in tune
without having to fight and cajole the horn too much and to blend well
with the "normal" instrumentation of a brass quintet.

Some bore sizes I've seen range from the .454 on the Amati ASL-601 up
to .500 on the Edwards. Is a "large" bore .500 horn designed to hold
up in a section where the second and bass are playing modern, "louder
is better" orchestral trombones? What kind of contrast in tone quality
between small and large are we talking about?

What do people think of the Bach 39, the Amati, the Conn with the Bb
attachment, the Yamaha YSL671? Any other favorite equipment? This
question is not an invitation to launch a holy war over the One True
Alto, merely a request for impressions. Does anyone have
recommendations about method books and etudes? Any thoughts on whether
alto will confuse my chops or my clef-reading on tenor?

Thanks,
Dave