[Trombone-l] Trombone for new elementary school player

[Price Taylor]

A HEARTY thanks to the list for lots of food for thought.

- My son was in piano lessons...restarting them is sensible on a number of
obvious levels...including music theory and reading bass clef
- Chris Waage offered a valuable opinion about starting early and then
getting bored.  My one comment/counterpoint is that this happens regardless,
doesn't it?  I bet most of the people on this list were capable music
students...and got "dragged down" to the lowest common denominator in band
until all-state competitions.  Still, learning with the group is valuable -
point taken.
- Lots of good information on the value of student instruments (including
having klutzes bang up the horn) as a starting point.  I recall that my old
King Cleveland was a pretty indestructible, I played it for several years.

Thanks again!

-Price




On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 12:00 PM, <thetubameister at roadrunner.com> wrote:

> A family requirement for me was that everyone has a year of piano at 10
> years old (ish).  Not an option; it was/is considered part of a basic
> education in my family.  And we also considered it the only launching point
> for another instrument. I tolerated it, even through weekly migraines as a
> result.  My boys'll have to tolerate it too :-)
>
> J.c.S.
>
> ---- James Meyer <bonejazz at att.net> wrote:
> > 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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