[Trombone-l] Help! A question for everyone.

[Charles De Paolo]

Hi Tom,

I'm thinking chops and air.  You are probably playing with harder (tighter) chops than you think.  Relax and let the pitch sag.  Let the air vibrate the chops freely.  Sing!!  Think of producing a sound by pulling a bow across a proverbial set of strings, with the bow speed high and the pressure light.  Instead of low speed and high pressure.  I strongly doubt anything is wrong with your axe, unless something is stuck inside, the problem is almost certainly with something you are doing.  Hope this helps!

--Chuck


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: ewigleben1 at aol.com 
  To: trombone-l at server5.samford.edu 
  Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:41 AM
  Subject: [Trombone-l] Help! A question for everyone.


  Reading about all of this old trombotine or other lubricants lasting a lifetime got me to thinking about a problem I've encountered.  No, it's not which new lubricant to buy, 'cause I have a tube of trombotine older than my adult kids also!  But instead, here's my query:  
   
  As I get older it seems I'm getting sharper and sharper.  Not my mind, of course, my playing!  Over the last two years or so I've noticed I have had to pull out more and more.  And it's not just in my rock band.  I've noticed it in my playing with the brass choir or other symphony or even church work around town.  It's not as big a problem with my bone quartet but that's because I think the other three guys are adjusting to me (I play the first book).
   
  I've wondered if it is my horn.  Is that possible........a horn simply "wear" out?  I have played the same Bach Strad 36 since 1975.  It's a small bore without a trigger for those not familiar.  I bought it because back then that's what Watrous played and I thought he was the greatest!  
   
  It's not in mint condition but there are no dents in it and the slide still works great.  No visual weld problems or spit valve problems.  
   
  Has this happened to anyone else?  As I approach 50 lots of things start to go, the knees, the blood pressure, the cholesterol, (fortunately some things still work fine!).
   
  If it's not the horn but somehow it's my playing, what would you suggest?  My embouchure certainly hasn't changed.  My hearing (ears) are fine.  I can hear I'm out of tune if I don't make the adjustments, but soon I may run out of tuning slide or 7th position!  I've lost no endurance and , if anything, due to my kids getting older and I have more "playing time", my chops have gotten stronger and my range has increased!  Besides, the tuning issue is in all octaves.
   
  There's a fine repair shop in Indianapolis and I may take it in and have it looked over.
   
  Looking forward to hearing some suggestions.  Thanks.
   
   
  Tom
   
   
   
   
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