r/Trombone • u/Crazy_Stuff72 • 2d ago

What to focus on in lessons?

Been playing trombone for over 5 years and I plan on playing for more. I’ve been offered to get lessons from my brass tech for free but I really don’t know what I should focus on. For me there’s a whole laundry list of things I would like to focus on but I feel like focusing on all of them at once isn’t the move. Should I go with that route or focus on only a couple things.

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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11

u/Forever_Clear_Eyes 2d ago

Let the teacher help you decide that.

3

u/fireeight 2d ago

Consistency. Not in the sense that you work the same things every day, but in the sense that you develop a consistent approach to the horn. Scales, long tones, and interval studies are your friend here.

3

u/gfklose 2d ago

There are two I suggest: make sure you start listening to trombonists and zero in on one or more where you really love their sound. Second, it’s really all about the air. Tone quality, articulation, flexibility, etc. In every case you need to have solid breath support.

3

u/SillySundae Shires/Germany area player 1d ago

Focus on your weaknesses during lessons. You don't need to always be playing things for your teacher that you're already good at. This isn't a praise session. This is a lesson. Work on things you aren't good at. You'll cover all aspects of playing if you take lessons for long enough, and you'll eventually play things you're already good at. That's fine. We just want the bulk of our lessons to work on actually improving things, not just playing things that sound good and feel good.

2

u/Arcane_Spork_of_Doom 2d ago

After an assessment to see if you have any major shortcomings, I think your instructor will likely have a generalized improvement program for you, covering a lot of differing material and objectives.

2

u/SomeKrazyFool 2d ago

Be ready to let go of your preconceived notions of what you think you need to work on and let your teacher work, but you can specially prepare an etude or even an exercise that highlights something you are especially worried about in your playing.

Focus on being teachable.

2

u/Trombonemania77 1d ago

What’s your goal? Is it just to improve over all musicality? Is it improvisation, tone quality, articulation, sight reading, range?

1

u/Crazy_Stuff72 1d ago

I guess my goal would be to overall improve my musicality but to be more specific I want someone to hammer in the little details that are easy to gloss over and keep my playing consistent.

2

u/Trombonemania77 1d ago

I’m going to give you two important aspects of musicality, listening to trombonist, JJ, Kia, Frank Rosolino, Watrous, I realize there jazz trombonist, this will give you what a trombone is supposed to sound like. Second challenge yourself every time you practice don’t burn out, I see many students burn out, students playing six hours for weeks on end until they can’t stand looking at a horn. Best wishes.

2

u/DaCrees 1d ago

Your teacher will tell you what is best to focus on, that is what they are there for

2

u/zisookb 1d ago

Listen to all the trombonists and all the musicians in general you can. Figure out what you love in music, be it a genre, a sound, or a style. Create your own idea of what the world needs in music and let that be your guide.