Why some trombone players never improve

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

thanks for liking and subbing, it helps the channel out a lot. I appreciate you all

[@mikestone6139]

I just retired from work at the end of 2022 . My 50th high school reunion is coming in June of 2024 . I played trombone in the Lenoir High School band but I dropped out after my sophomore year (1971 ) and have not played since . At the upcoming reunion a few of us will play our alma mater and our " Bearcat Spirit Song " . I picked up my Olds Student model in January 2023 and have played every day since . This meant starting from scratch getting my embouchure back , relearning the notes , positions and so forth . I am playing school lesson music with scales , long tones ,flexibility along with some songs . I feel great playing fifty two years later learning and enjoying my trombone and the pleasure it brings . I have been following you for a while now and wanted to thank you for your effort and expertise and advice . I needed your last program on getting better . I will take your points on this and run with them . Thank You ! Mike.

[@JuanRamirez-mi7uf]

Hey i was here because i was trying to get better and there is sometimes i can't improve this is very helpful

[@Overlycomplicatedswede]

I still learn things from u after 11 or so years of playing trombone specifically bass trombone. im a senior in high school currently and my biggest issue is practicing consistently. I practice but it’s not very consistent. Yet I’m still seen as a skilled player by a lot of people. I still love playing and challenging myself with music I know I can’t play flawlessly or at a high standard right away.

[@tanaka0277]

THIS format is perfect, not overdone just quality content

[@Trinhbone7]

Feeling a lil burnt out recently, but I’m getting back into the groove! Love your videos and I appreciate the advice! Bass Bone from Dallas, TX.

[@mustafa1name]

If you haven't seen it Brandon, check out the 56 Trombonists playing Don't Stop Me Now (on YT). Inspiring AF 😉

[@Itzbrentman]

Awesome video! Great, concise points!

[@samuelholroyd4658]

Hey thank you Paul! I am a senior in Highschool and have been playing trombone for 4 months now. You and your videos are very inspiring and insightful! I love this channel and the work you do.

[@sarahflewitt2349]

My son is about to start the trombone and your videos are so encouraging I think he’ll be off to a great start so Thankyou!

[@jamieharris8075]

Hi Paul. I took a video lesson with you once and you know and have played with my son Jon I appreciate your comment about getting out of comfort zone. I have a chance to do that this coming Sunday by playing with Jon's band at an Easter jazz brunch. He invited me to come and sit in on a few songs of my choosing. I'll be there and definitely will be playing with a group of pros w ay above my level! Thanks for the timely encouragement as I was considering backing out of it, but now committing. Keep up your good work and videos.

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

great to see you here Jamie!

[@davidthornber3544]

Thank you Paul. Keep up the great work. You are really valued 😊

[@ktang001]

Great points! I've been watching your videos since I started learning the trombone. I have been playing for just under 2 years now. I hope to be good one day!

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

I appreciate you

[@chapstic593]

This hits home . Being bad on the trenches is way better than being good and praised

[@Da_TboneLife]

Thanks for more advice on being a bone player. I am in the wind ensemble in my high school, and I am going to state in 2 weeks. My director used to play professionally on trombone as it was her instrument, and we have a schedule that I take those times to learn more about playing my piece and how to practice it efficiently. I'm competing against players who spend days practicing and have a professional mentor or tutor, but with me going to state represents my school.

[@QMore-fp7wn]

Great vid and tips. I enjoy all of your videos. I’m 53 and played trombone since 5th grade and began doubling on euphonium starting in college. I finished college with a degree in chemistry and a minor in music and have been teaching chemistry for 29 yrs while also helping out the band where I teach. For the last five or so years, I’ve been playing more euphonium in my local community bands and have really enjoyed getting back into active playing. I still pick up the trombone often as well. Your vids are really what inspired me to get back into playing. Thanks for helping restore the gift of music.

[@SticksAndStonePercussion]

What a wondefful use of captions. :)

[@damoniewatt4086]

Thanks man. This year I'm gonna make it priority to practice at least 5 days a week.

[@gabecase4043]

Thank you for this!! 😄

[@pathminusdestination]

Hey man, I've been really digging your page lately. I'm a veteran player, who has always played a million styles, taking whatever gigs came my way, but my true love is creative improvised music, stuff where I can really seek out the sounds that I can get out of my horn. Now that I've been playing the horn for 35 years, I've found myself going right back to basics, because this is the best way to find new sounds! Split-tones, for example! Anyway, your videos have been a great resource for me to remind myself of basic things that I need in order to push the horn to its limits, and to push my abilities there.

[@meep_145]

Thank you for this insightful information Paul I’m going to start stepping out of my comfort zone now and working on pieces I’ve never really seen. Have a great day 🎺

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

Best of luck! You too!

[@evanmullis3]

Thank you for another helpful video. I am going into college next year for music performance and my biggest concern has been improving as much as I can. I bought your method book and I’m hoping to use it to change my playing over the Summer

[@Adrien_A]

Super helpful!

[@johndowson7929]

Hi Paul its toothless from UK 🇬🇧 , I play things I know if im struggling just to cheer myself up tbh but I do get what you mean n with me if i hear something a lick or something i get obsessed with it till I do get it . Sad week this week as my pooch died on Sunday, still raw . But dnt you hate that difference from the F in 1st to same note in 6th I'm going close to 7th . Anyway I have noticed my playing Mm you can hear the emotion in my playing , play for her memory aswell now. Ain't that just something Paul the emotion through your playing on a blues ❤

[@boatengisraelkumah9168]

Thanks Paul 🎶

[@Tracer83]

Great video, Paul. Long time listener. First time caller. I took a ten year break from trombone (aside from noodling at home) and recently decided to pursue all my jazz goals from my 20s. I just got home from a very professionally run jam in Newport, Rhode Island with some stellar musicians. I was nervous because it all gets recorded and posted to KZbin...but hey...sometime you gotta jump in and get dirty. Three of the tunes we played were standard funk/blues heads in C-minor. Guess that's the go-to for jams if not Bb. I came away thinking my solos were lame and repetitive despite being loud, growly, and crowd pleasing. But then I re-watched that video that's been floating around of Andy Martin playing a funk jam (also a C-minor blues). I thought to myself...he's a virtuoso, but nothing he's playing is beyond my potential...if I keep working the stuff I'm not already decent at (I was literally thinking that when I clicked your video). Thanks for all the wicked content.

[@flonomcflooneyloo7573]

I have a King Silversonic 2B which was purchased in 1965, still in flawless condition.

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

nice! those are fun

[@garretttibbets3450]

Thank you so much this helped me a lot

[@jg2977]

I stopped improving around 10 years ago because my embouchure had some really bad flaws. I was using the entirely wrong mouthpiece placement for certain ranges, which caused me to over shift and change my embouchure setting constantly. It made my playing very inefficient. I couldn’t figure it out and I nearly gave up. Finally I took a lesson with an embouchure expert who immediately pointed out what I was doing wrong and how to fix it. Almost like magic I began improving again.

[@jmzt3187]

I have the same problem, how did you fix it?

[@jg2977]

@@jmzt3187 take a lesson with Doug Elliott

[@ShaneCornish-b1s]

Great vids! worth 30 minutes of video games.

[@clarencespears5253]

Paul: You comments about having to push past your comfort zone when practicing in order to improve are DO TRUE! You also have to WANT to improve your playing, HAVE AN EFFECTIVE PLAN, and employ that plan CONSISTENTLY

[@robertridley9279]

I never improved because I rarely practiced outside of rehearsal, and because I didn't pursue trombone playing as a career. My guess is that I plateaued. If I were to pick up and play I wouldn't be worse than I was the last time I played, but it would be obvious I'm not a pro.

[@lkbk5739]

Important question...how do you modify your practice sessions during a lung infection/injury . I'm playing valve trombone and fighting a cold with a rib injury.

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

First thing is ask your doctor if it is safe to play. If it is I recommend starting simple. Long tones on the major scales

[@yacine-Aloun]

Hi Paul. can u play tarantella (Gioachino rossini) please ?

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

I will check it out!

[@yacine-Aloun]

Thank you so much .

[@vahpr]

Excellent advice, especially be consistent and practice stuff you can’t play. Kinda wish you’d lose that background music though, just talk man

[@MrStareze]

I remember those early years! You and the interwebs! (and the banana 🍌)

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

thanks for sticking around!

[@LukeBerringer]

Why am I in your thumbnail dude? Super weird.....

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

not sure what happened, someone does my thumbnails, but it's great to see you here

[@MystearicaClaws]

I don't improve because I don't have a trombone lol. Life costs too much.

[@annettedillon7751]

So true

[@robertcooper4945]

You can find horns for under $100.- They won t be perfect but you ll have a horn to get better on!

[@MystearicaClaws]

@@robertcooper4945 My bank account is in the negative. I'm working on a career change but I'm physically limited