[Trombone-l] Trombone for new elementary school player

[James Meyer]

Totally agree with Chris regarding the idea of starting them on piano if
they (or the parents) want a head start.  I started piano at age 5, I
started trombone the summer before 6th grade with everyone else.  I was a
bit bored because I could already read music, but it just helped me become
better fast, which led to me being first chair.  THAT definitely fed my
young ego and kept me in band.  Some 40 years later, I've never regretted
knowing piano very well.


On 3/4/09 9:32 AM, "Chris Waage" <chris.waage at gmail.com> wrote:

> I will admit to being very opinionated on this topic, and while you may have
> experience different results, here's my $0.02.
> 
> DON'T START THE KID BEFORE HE OR SHE STARTS IN SCHOOL.
> 
> On average, I have one or two parents contact me every year wanting to start
> their kid on a band instrument the summer before or the year before he or
> she would normally start in school.  The first couple of times this
> happened, I did it.  While each of the kids had some decent talent for the
> instrument and for music, they all ended up quitting before Christmas.
> 
> Why?
> 
> Because they were bored silly.  Everyone else is learning "This is a b-flat,
> and you play it in first position" while they can already play most of the
> material the rest of the class will play in the first semester.
> 
> I will grant that there could always be an exception to the rule, but I have
> seen this play out so many times that I'm willing to stick by my rule.  And
> yes, there could also be other reasons why they quit - heck, it could be my
> teaching, they didn't like the band director, they didn't like lugging the
> thing back and forth to school, or a host of other rational or irrational
> reasons.
> 
> However, starting a student before everyone else really doesn't work out for
> the best.
> 
> If they want to get a head start on music, start them on piano. They get the
> basics - pitch, rhythm, practice habits, etc. that will help them succeed
> down the road in band.
> 
> Now, back to the original question of an instrument.  I personally recommend
> any of the Yamaha beginner instruments, as well as any of the decent older
> Bachs, Conn Directors, Kings or Getzens that are floating around.  I also do
> not recommend getting a beginner a pro-level instrument for the simple fact
> that the slides are far too touchy.  The beginner trombones have
> heavier-walled slides to better resist the daily "oopses" that happen to
> beginners.
> 
> Again, your mileage may vary, but I wouldn't start the kid early.
> 
> Chris
> 
> --
> Chris Waage, Bass Trombonist
> chris.waage at gmail.com
> 
> 
> 
> From: Price Taylor <pricetaylor at comcast.net>
> Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 07:06:11 -0800
> To: Trombone List <trombone-l at samford.edu>
> Subject: [Trombone-l] Trombone for new elementary school player
> 
> I asked this a couple of days ago..but might have used the wrong e-mail
> address (I use multiple e-mails and consolidate them with Gmail).
> 
> =====
> 
> Hello list, my youngest son is 10, in 4th grade, and is expressing an
> interest in playing the trombone - of course, that's great (I think...)!
> 
> I started playing in 5th grade but the current thinking now is 6th grade - I
> think that's because the middle school has band?
> 
> I was thinking that this summer might be a good time to get an early start
> and begin playing.  Many years ago, I bequeathed my old King Cleveland to my
> high school, that was my first trombone.  Guess I should have kept it, it
> was pretty hard to hurt that horn.
> 
> I'm looking for recommendations for a beginner's trombone - ideally
> something to last to 9th grade.  The Yamaha YSL-354 appears to be the choice
> of many, although I have no experience with Yamaha trombones (I play a Conn
> 88H and King 3B).
> 
> Any other suggestions?
> 
> Thanks list!
> 
> -Price
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