Eric Gabriel Marx Brass Methods February 11, 2020

Trombone TPO
 Out of the case:
o Lay case flat on floor, latches to open upward
o Remove slide and hold in left hand with the taller portion of the slide facing to
your left.
o Remove bell and place on the taller portion of the trombone slide, at a 90-degree
angle and facing outward.
o Tighten the bell onto the slide until resistance is felt, do not twist too tightly.
o Retrieve the mouthpiece from the case and place into the mouthpiece receiver,
giving the mouthpiece a quarter turn.
 Posture
o Seated upright in a chair, either against the back of the chair or on the front.
o Straight back, hips in line with shoulders.
o Two feet flat on the floor.
 Hand Position
o Left Hand –
 Thumb rests on the horn brace closest to mouthpiece.
 Pointer finger wraps around the mouthpiece.
 Middle, ring and pinkie fingers relax around and support the first slide
brace.
o Right Hand –
 Pinch the bottom brace of the slide with the thumb, pointer and middle
fingers.
 Move the slide with a relaxed, fluid motion of the wrist and elbow.
 Other two fingers, ring and pinkie, can relax on the hand.
 Initial Sounds
o Say the letter “M” to form the embouchure.
o “Spit out a watermelon seed” to establish a focused buzz.
o Place mouthpiece on lips, in the direct center of the lips.
 Half and half up and down, half and half left and right.
o Say M and spit out a watermelon seed into the properly placed mouthpiece.
o Support with full breath of air.
 Articulation
o Tongue should interrupt air stream, placed between top teeth and gumline.
o Ta – Regular articulation
o Ti – Separated articulation
o Doo – Connected articulation
 Quick Problems and Solutions
o P: Student having trouble with high notes?
o S: Use more air, support from the diaphragm, less tension on mouthpiece.
o P: “Drunken trombone sound” or, slurring into notes?
o S: Move the slide faster.
 Idiosyncrasies
o 1st Position – All the way in
o 2nd Position – Slightly out from 1
o 3rd Position – First brace just inside the bell
o 4th Position – The slide is just passed the bell
o 5th Position – In between 4th and 6th position
o 6th Position – Comfortable arms-length
o 7th Position – An extended arms-length passed 6th position
 References
o Trombone.org
o Trombone.net
o A Complete Guide to Brass – Chapter 5, 10, 12 – Scott Whitener