Trombone Setup Series Video #2; Holding the Instrument

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James Markey Trombone

4 жыл бұрын

James Markey, Boston Symphony Bass Trombonist, discusses how to set up young players to hold a trombone.

Пікірлер: 7

@emorigami7108 4 жыл бұрын

The thanksgiving turkey part was adorable

@doblet664 2 жыл бұрын

God bless you and your loved ones, Maestro. I hope ya'll are safe and thriving 👑

@Capricegirl_ 4 жыл бұрын

I was worried you would let him hold your bass trombone XD

@T-Slider 3 жыл бұрын

James, Mr. Markey, I really can’t believe I’m writing this: you’ve forgotten where the weight distribution is on a straight tenor trombone. It is at the slide end of the horn. It is the middle, ring, and pinky fingers of the left hand that leverage the weight of the horn up, while the thumb is pushing down on the gooseneck to keep the horn in playing position. Tenor trombones are notoriously out of balance. There is no carrying the weight with the left thumb thereby transferring the weight down the arm. Even tenor trombones with a counterweight are still very front heavy. In my 66 years as a straight tenor trombone, I have only encountered one trombone manufacturer that employs a counterweight system that can balance a straight tenor trombone: Rath! Even then it necessary to special order replacement heavier interchangeable weights to correctly balance the R1 at the hand position. But at least it’s possible! The balance of trigger horns, and especially bass trombones with two valves and tubing hanging off the back is a completely different matter that I’m almost completely ignorant about. On a more positive note, thank you for what you are doing on YT. Love your playing. I believe your “On Base” album is the most astonishing recording of the bass trombone ever made! Simply Astounding! Someone with influence in the trombone world needs to champion a solution for in-balance tenor trombones. For the children! Out of balance tenor trombones are doing serious long term damage to the entire structure of the left hand to this day! Please launch a campaign to eliminate this problem. Rath demonstrates that a solution is possible that doesn't interfere with the performance of the horn while at the same time being ergonomically friendly. However, Rath doesn't make student horns.

@markeybone 3 жыл бұрын

You are right, that weight distribution on trombones varies greatly, and that because of it, the fingers need to be active in order to balance the instrument. I think if you look at the audience for whom this is intended, you’ll understand that my point is to help educators who start kids on instruments (or the kids themselves) to get them to hold it so the instrument is stable, rather than by a full hand grip around the first verticle brace. That said, I believe that the point of the hand bearing the weight is an accurate one - not necessarily the thumb, but the base of the hand, to ease the strain off the fingers. The bottom line is that physics tells us that the weight is transferred to the arm somehow or the instrument would fall to the ground. The question is where that happens - either by the fingers clenching around the brace, the instrument suspended some way, etc. I hope that this helps young players avoid bad habits in holding the instrument, and helps build their ability to hold the instrument steady, increasing their accuracy and consistency.