Best Trombones From Beginner To Professionals
Trombone Skills
Trombones and music have been part of my life since I was a little girl of age 11. I have played so many different styles of trombone that it has been tough to pick my favorites for each level of skill.
The boundaries between beginner, intermediate and professional standards will always vary in benchmarks but there are certain elements that will group the student into one of the three categories.
Beginner players will be someone who has been playing consistently for approximately four years and will have a good grasp of the basic elements. The student will be able to read bass clef, improvise a bit and perform well in a band.
Intermediates will be able to read tenor clef, start using an F valve, be proficient in solo performances and should start becoming noticed in classical and symphonic settings, whether that's local or national. For many younger students this will start to happen around the age of 14-16, perhaps sooner if they began at a younger age.
Professionals are what they say on the tin; you will be able to read all clefs and can switch between them with ease during sight-reading, have knowledge in bass, tenor, alto and soprano trombones and have built up a reputation for yourself as a soloist and symphonic player with a wide repertoire.
This article will provide you with three of my favorite trombones: one for beginners, one for intermediates and another for professionals. I'll also include maintenance kits for cleaning and polishing as they are also vital to your trombone's health.
Beginner Trombone
I would always recommend testing out a new instrument in person before committing to the purchase.
The Blessing Trombone
For The Beginners
A very fun piece of work to get you into the spirit of trombone playing
The Acrobat
Intermediate Trombone
By this stage you may have been through a couple of beginner trombones and have a preferred mouthpiece depth and width.
Intermediate Trombone
Symphonic Work
As a trombonist you will fall in love with any Russian composer, they just know how to write amazing pieces for the trombone. This video is an amazing demonstration of the trombone's place as a soloist in an orchestral setting, enjoy.
Rimskiy-Korsakov - trombone concerto, soloist Alexander Demidenko
Professional Trombones
By now you will have a clear understanding of what you want in your instrument and your abilities.
Music Styles
What do you like to play on your trombone?
Professional Trombone
Skillful Performance
Someone said to me once that trombones are only good for two things: playing loudly and slowly. This video clip just proves everyone wrong who has that particular mindset about us trombonists. This is an amazing video demonstrating the trombone's versatile nature and flexibility.
The Carnival of Venice - Bob McChesney
Caring For Your Trombone
Looking after your trombone is vital to its health and your performance. Before playing you should give the exterior a quick wipe with a soft cloth to remove any dust, check for blockages in the mouthpiece and service the slide. To keep your slide in working order you should follow these steps every time you play:
- Clean the slide all the way down to the stocks with a clean soft cloth
- Apply some slide cream on the stocks and a little oil at the top near the lock
- Spray the slide liberally with water
- Slowly move the slide up to get good coverage
- Apply more water as and when it is necessary, especially when playing.
After each session you should full empty the spit valve and wipe your instrument off with a soft cloth.
Occasionally your instrument with need a bath to clear any gunk out. Soak your instrument in lukewarm water (if you have a ceramic bath then put a towel in first to protect the instrument and bath from scratches) for a few minutes then flush through with water. Use a thin flexible brush on the slide to remove any residue. Fully dry the trombone and apply lacquer cleaner as per the manufacturers instructions to keep it nice and shiny. Treat the slide as per normal.
