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

[John Monroe]

As a recent alto convert who's having a lot of fun with it, I  
recommend the following:

1.  Consider Kuehnl & Hoyer altos.  I love my Kuehnl & Hoyer Slokar  
model alto.  Bought from Steve Ferguson in LA.  See <<  http:// 
www.hornguys.com/hornsinstock.htm  >>  He has a demo Slokar model for  
sale right now.  They are terrific . The 122 model K&H is also a  
lovely horn for about 75% of the price of the Slokar.

2.  I have been using a Giddings & Webster Harry Watters signature  
model mouthpiece.  Works great.  A 7C came with the original horn,  
it's fine too.  But I like the stainless feel of the G&W mouthpieces.

3.  Play it every day.  Get a lesson or two.  The Benny Sluchin Alto  
trombone tutors can help you get started, but for me the best  
practice has been to actually play tunes.  Bach Chorales, Mozart  
Requiem, etc. etc.  Mix in the alto with your regular tenor  
practice.  Don't start or finish, but spend some time.

4.  A great way to learn your way around the ax comes from Billy  
Robinson, founder of the Bay Bones (aka the clefmaster).  Billy's  
insisted that I learn to play bass clef and tenor clef parts on the  
alto ... not just alto clef.  This has caused me to learn my way  
around the alto pretty well.  Don't play just alto parts.

5.  Don't blow hard.  Toughest thing for me at the start was to learn  
to back off the volume from regular tenor volume.  Playing the alto  
as loud as you'll ever need to play it will feel like playing a tenor  
at mezzoforte.

6.  Enjoy the ability to play looooong phrases without taking a  
breath.  That's a great joy of the alto.

7.  Play jazz on the alto.  Another Billy Robinson tip that is right on.

Have fun!

John Monroe

On Apr 16, 2007, at 10:02 PM, Dave Demko wrote:

> 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
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