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of Valve Trombones
Posted By: Dana Hench, on host 64.38.140.27
Date: Saturday, March 9, 2002, at 01:07:47
In Reply To: Re: Theory of Size posted by Darien on Wednesday, January 23, 2002, at 05:50:51:

> > Trombones, too. They rule just as they are (except once I saw a trombone with valves [like a cornet] in Austria and that was the bomb).
>
> Valve trombones are totally gay. Having a slide is the way to go; it gives the trombonist such fine control over the pitch he's playing, and allows for wonderful gliss / slur effects. Not to mention it doesn't wear out (unlike valve springs) and it doesn't give you pipe with four million bends (each with corresponding spit resevoir). No, the trombone is truly the greatest of all wind instruments. I'm sure Wes would agree (he'd say something about bass trombones, but, hey; as long as it has a slide, it's fine by me).

Although the valve trombone defeats the purpose of the trombone's essense, it does serves a purpose. The valve trombone is for marching bands that need a trumpeter to switch to trombone. Valve trombones are also great solo instuments that have a noble bright sound that can fill the 2nd bone part. Valve trombones do, however, have slight intonation problems that can (contrary to popular belief) be fixed with work and expirience. Valve trombones are also great for baritonist who want to play jazz, also known as Rob Mc Connel. The Valve trombone isn't a terrible thing, just misunderstood.
I ,myself, play trombone and Euphonium. Recently I was forced to learn valve trombone becuase I broke my wrist playing football and the cast gets in the way of playing Euphonium and I can't play trombone in tune anymore...I like it at times, but get frustrated at it, too. My director and private teacher doesn't like valve trombones (too "stuffy"), but my other band two directors like it because it's something different and like that I want to learn. So, anyhow, you gotta really understand it to be able to know it.

-Dana

PS. Trombone slides can go with time(I.E. dents, not being take care of, yes, you can take out dents but they leave their toll). And IF YOU THINK THE VALVE TROMBONE HAS TOO MANY BENDS TAKE A LOOK AT F-ATTACHMENTS ON CLOSED WRAPPED BONES. Also, there's some neat stuff you do on valve trombones like half valving and play really fast that you can't on trombone. I like all three instruments.

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