Relearning after 35 years...where to start

[swh]

I'm a 50 something year old guy that has decided to relearn the bone after a 35 year hiatus. I played regluarly for 7 years in my youth and loved it.

I'm trying to figure out where to start. I have an old Besson trombone and now trying to figure out the best way to go about lessons.

Given my professional commitments I can't be taking after lessons in person. I've been searching for local instructors with the availability I need but so far no luck. I'm considering online lessons as a starting point but not sure if there are any that are better than others.

Any sage words of wisdom for an old newbie? I'm in the western part of the greater Toronto area in Canada.

[BGuttman]

1. Do you remember how to read music? That could make your return much quicker.

2. There are a couple of method books on IMSLP that can take you from the very basics up to some impressive levels. I would recommend the first volume of the LaFosse Methode Complet. Don't worry about all the half notes for now. Just work on remembering how much to move the slide and getting a nice stable tone. Playing songs will come later.

3. Don't expect miracles. It will take a while to remember all you forgot. And maybe learn a few things that you never knew before. And set your sights on achievable things. Like being able to play 3rd trombone in a Big Band or 2nd trombone in a concert band.

We do have a few members who will give lessons over Skype; I hope some of them will chime in here. I hope you don't run into the kind of teacher I had learning viola. I had to miss one lesson due to a business trip (I was perfectly willing to pay for it) but she kicked me out of the lesson studio.

[VJOFan]

I know you said you are a busy guy, but...

If you have one evening a week, and there is a New Horizons https://newhorizonsmusic.org/Find_a_Group group in your area they are specifically geared toward adult beginners or returnees. The community of these groups seems to work wonders.

[swh]

I know you said you are a busy guy, but...

If you have one evening a week, and there is a New Horizons https://newhorizonsmusic.org/Find_a_Group group in your area they are specifically geared toward adult beginners or returnees. The community of these groups seems to work wonders.

Interestingly there is actually a chapter in my town. Unfortunately it looks like they only meet weekdays during the day but regardless it gives me a contact to explore for some local resources.

[tbdana]

Hey SWH, welcome back to trombone.

Where on the planet are you located? Maybe someone can help with potential teachers. And these days you can take lessons from great teachers anywhere in the world by Zoom or Skype, and that experience can be as good as in-person lessons.

I second the idea of finding a group to play with. Any group. I took 30 years off, and when I started back up I immediately sought out a community concert band to play with. They were welcoming and patient as I re-learned how to play this beautiful instrument, and getting out and playing with other people was tremendously rewarding, motivating, and helpful.

[swh]

Hey SWH, welcome back to trombone.

Where on the planet are you located? Maybe someone can help with potential teachers. And these days you can take lessons from great teachers anywhere in the world by Zoom or Skype, and that experience can be as good as in-person lessons.

I second the idea of finding a group to play with. Any group. I took 30 years off, and when I started back up I immediately sought out a community concert band to play with. They were welcoming and patient as I re-learned how to play this beautiful instrument, and getting out and playing with other people was tremendously rewarding, motivating, and helpful.

Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

[Doug Elliott]

I do lessons by Skype and can definitely get you on the right track very quickly.

[cmccain]

As someone said above, don't expect miracles, especially when it comes to range. One of the hardest parts of returning, at least for me coming back after a much shorter break, was recognizing that while I had the technique and know-how to extend the high and low ranges to 3+ octaves, my actual embouchre muscles needed lots of time to reach that point. You might remember the right technique to pull out a high __ or pedal __, but your face needs time to build the strength back to actually execute that technique. Same thing with endurance. You're going to come in with the mind of someone who played for 7 years, but the embouchre of a beginner. It can be frustrating to take it as slow as your muscles probably need, but it's a little like physical therapy in that way. Progress is going to start out slow and plodding, and going too fast is going to cause long-term issues.

[Dsalad]

Intonation after all these years is...HARD. I was never really good to start, but man, returning has been tough. Still working on it, 6 months into my return. Agree with finding a community band -- so much fun! Good luck!

[JoeBok]

Wow - I have the same story, except my hiatus was 40 years. I started back about 4 weeks ago. I was amazed how well the know-how of reading music and knowing slide positions came back, but ability to execute will take time and practice. In these 4 weeks, my range is a couple pedals to D4 or so with reliability - which is a good enough range to have fun with practice. What is taking longer is crisp articulation and getting enough wind to play passages.

Anyway - if my experience is any guide, the stuff learned as a kid is still there and it won't take long to be having lots of fun! Good luck!

[snowtraveler]

Wow - I have the same story, except my hiatus was 40 years. I started back about 4 weeks ago. I was amazed how well the know-how of reading music and knowing slide positions came back, but ability to execute will take time and practice. In these 4 weeks, my range is a couple pedals to D4 or so with reliability - which is a good enough range to have fun with practice. What is taking longer is crisp articulation and getting enough wind to play passages.

Anyway - if my experience is any guide, the stuff learned as a kid is still there and it won't take long to be having lots of fun! Good luck!

I'd no idea there were many others returning to music and the trombone after so long. The experience is at once powerful and humbling, is it not?

Wishing you the best!

[swh]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and advice. Had my first lesson tonight with a local instructor. Great to start back and very humbling to get back to basics. Should've have come back years ago but I am looking forwards to the journey ahead with this great instument

[snowtraveler]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and advice. Had my first lesson tonight with a local instructor. Great to start back and very humbling to get back to basics. Should've have come back years ago but I am looking forwards to the journey ahead with this great instument

Now that's what I'm talking about: Cheers and best wishes!

[Savio]

Congratulations! The journey is the best thing with the trombone! No matter where in the journey we are. Basics are like yoga. Playing with others is so fun. Meeting other people, making friends, making music together. Yes, the trombone is the most wonderful instrument in the world!

Leif

[NZIII]

Welcome back to the trombone world! I jumped back in on January 1st after a long break, so I know the feeling.
Here are some things that have helped me get back into shape after a month and nine days of consistent practice:
• Keep your horn on a stand where you can see it daily. It’ll call to you.
• Short practice sessions are better than no practice sessions.
• Set realistic goals so you don’t get discouraged. It’ll take a few months to really feel comfortable again.
• Some days will be better than others; that’s just how it goes. Love yourself a little more on the rough ones.
• Look into solid practice routines and stick with them. Muscle memory is real. Long tones, flexibility exercises, and scales are your best friends.
• If you have the time and can afford lessons, do it.
• Take plenty of breaks, and never push to the point of pain.
• If you can, join a community band. Nothing beats playing live with others.

I’ve already booked a salsa gig in April and an orchestra gig in August, and in March (two months in), I’ll be putting myself back out there on social media for more gigs to keep improving. ZERO STRESS.
Above all, have fun and make music, as Sam Burtis used to say, “from the soul to the soul. Bet on it.”

Wishing you the best on your journey!
NZ

[cubetrom]

Good luck & enjoy yourself out there.

I returned to playing trombone as my main instrument after 15 years away. I played trumpet and cornet during that time but it never felt quite 'right' and I constantly felt frustrated with how inconsistent I was. I have a drawer of mouthpieces and many regrets.

I've been playing 1st trombone in both a brass band and wind band for about 6 weeks now, and it has helped me enormously. Having people to play with and give feedback has been invaluable.

The biggest hurdles for me have been breathing and slide control. Valved instruments are more forgiving and the trombone takes more than twice the air of a cornet/trumpet. I've found a smaller bore trombone and a tighter mouthpiece has helped me and has the additional effect of giving me support for those high 1st trombone moments. I've also found it better to practice in shorter sessions and rest when you need to.

Don't put pressure on yourself and don't set unrealistic expectations out of the gate. That's a sure fire way to end up putting it back in its case and never touching it again. The first weeks I had a really fuzzy tone and the most offputting double buzz on some notes which was extremely deflating, but I persisted. If you explain you are relearning, people will be understanding and accomodating.

As others have said, it's a journey.

[fiddlefestival]

The biggest hurdles for me have been breathing and slide control. ...The first weeks I had a really fuzzy tone and the most offputting double buzz on some notes which was extremely deflating

I'm a brass beginner, not a relearner, in my 60s (decades of playing string instruments). Still in month 1 of the journey, so hearing that relearners at that point struggle with the same issues is encouraging to know. Breath consistency has been the surprising challenge for me, cutting out or not starting as expected. Beginner tone, double buzz, and limited range were expected and already changing. At this early stage, I practice lip slurs, 3-5 note arpeggios, as warm up and main practice (only get to D4 reliably and F4 shakily) because changing pitches that way is the biggest difference other instruments. Then play extremely slowly through some jazz tunes that have a limited range, usually just leafing through a Real Book. Most of what I have is in treble clef, so it will sound an octave down. Some tunes, like Blue Bossa, work for me 2 octaves down and practices the lowest range). I create backing tracks for intonation, otherwise I would run off pitch quickly and never figure out the slide position.

[captain]

Playing with backing tracks sounds like a great idea! Is there any way you could share those with us?

[captain]

FWIW, I bought some online classes. The classes are good, but the !@#$ing site that sells them and then forces you into its Procrustean box to watch them is horrible. If anyone knows of a good teacher just selling videos outright that we can use anytime, anywhere, anyhow we want, please let me know.
I know that finding a live teacher is probably best though, but Pandemic really took the wind out of my sails and I just cannot do all that's necessary (mostly the driving for hours in traffic) to go to "real lessons". :-p