| The trombone is a member of the brass family | | | | bands eg the big band.. |
| and the horn and come in different sizes. The | | | | Orchestras generally have two tenors and one |
| most common ones are the medium sized or | | | | bass trombone. The other groups having varying |
| tenor trombone and larger sized or bass | | | | numbers of trombone players. |
| trombone which are both pitched in Bb. They | | | | Let's take a look at two well known trombone |
| produce heavy sounds which are lower than the | | | | players. |
| trumpet and are used when the orchestra is | | | | 1. Slide Hampton (Locksley Wellington "Slide" |
| playing loud sections or in harmony with the higher | | | | Hampton ) was a famous American trombonist, |
| horn and trumpet parts. | | | | composer and arranger who played all around |
| Trombones have a cylindrical shaped tube and a | | | | Europe after he was in his dad's band, named |
| cup shaped mouthpiece and are related to the | | | | Hampton's Band. He toured with them a lot and is |
| trumpets. But instead of valves which a trumpet | | | | probably the best role model for starting |
| has, a trombone has a moveable slide which | | | | trombonists. Slide Hampton was born in 1932. |
| moves in and out. A player will stop the slide at | | | | 2.Tommy Dorsey ( Thomas Francis Dorsey ) was |
| any of the seven positions to get the range of | | | | a great American jazz trombone player as well as |
| notes available to produce. At any of the positions | | | | a trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big |
| a series of notes can be produced by tightening | | | | Band era. He had a smooth-toned trombone |
| or slackening his lips. The notes produced are a | | | | playing style and was known as "The Sentimental |
| series of natural notes called harmonics. When the | | | | Gentleman of Swing". He is famous for The Spell |
| slide is pulled out completely, the range of notes | | | | of the Blues and The Boogie Woogie. Tommy |
| which can be produced will extend downwards for | | | | Dorsey was born |
| six semitones. | | | | November 19, 1905 and died November 26, 1956. |
| Like other brass instruments, the sound of the | | | | You now know that the trombone is a brass |
| trombone is produced by blowing air through | | | | instrument of varying sizes and can be played in a |
| pursed lips producing a vibration that creates a | | | | variety of situations. You have been given |
| standing wave in the instrument. When the player | | | | examples of two well know trombonists which |
| moves the slide out it extends the length of the | | | | could look up on YouTube and see if the sound |
| air column and lowers the pitch. | | | | tantalises your taste buds. Then you need to |
| Trombones are played in a variety of situations | | | | make the final decision; Do you want to learn the |
| like orchestras, military bands, jazz bands, dance | | | | trombone? |