TromboneChat

I was not familiar with this work, Marstellar’s Basic Routines, but James Markey referred to it in his recent video series on getting back into shape after a layoff. A quick look suggests an expansive view of “basic”.

Any thoughts about Marstellar’s Basic Routines?

Solid book - but you have to use it intelligently vs. just go through exercise by exercise

Marstellar had a unique approach to working on flexibility and lip slurs. His more advanced exercises require the trombonist to have firm command of wide intervals and ear training skills. One of my favorite Marstellar exercises is the one that Paul Tanner included in his “Practice with Experts” book.

It is very easy to determine if a student is ready for his exercises. The students who are NOT ready will miss the majority of the pitches on the exercises with the wide intervals. I have had that happen with a couple of students…….definitely my mistake in judgement.

I think Marstellar intended these to be “Basic Routines for Trombone (for the advanced student or professional).”

One of my favorite books, definitely feels to me like it's intended as "basic" for a serious college student. It seems like it's kind of one of the first really modern feeling flexibility books.

Once I got into the logic of really jumping around and starting with the simple exercises in each section, I found it incredibly helpful in really moving out of the kind of just make a stable block of sound that doesn't move approach. Really lovely book.

His Advanced Slide Technique book is...wild.

mbarbier wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2025 1:32 pm
His Advanced Slide Technique book is...wild.

Much agree! Sometimes when I’m really in a groove and thinking that my alternative positions are very well in tune, I pull out Marstellar’s “Advanced Slide Technique” and take the alternate positions adventure into deeper waters. Some of the patterns in that book are quite challenging……..especially for intonation. Can be very humbling!

I wish I could have heard Marstellar play live in his prime. He must have been awesome.

Crazy4Tbone86 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2025 4:03 pm

mbarbier wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2025 1:32 pm
His Advanced Slide Technique book is...wild.

Much agree! Sometimes when I’m really in a groove and thinking that my alternative positions are very well in tune, I pull out Marstellar’s “Advanced Slide Technique” and take the alternate positions adventure into deeper waters. Some of the patterns in that book are quite challenging……..especially for intonation. Can be very humbling!

I wish I could have heard Marstellar play live in his prime. He must have been awesome.

Agreed - every time I think I'm gonna be able to handle that book I'm quickly reminded I can't .

Same- I wouldve loved to hear him live. The recordings are amazing - it must've been amazingly unique.