Discussions > Getting My Chops Back
Can you tell me a little more about your playing background?
Some specific questions:
1. What exactly are you currently practicing?
2. How much are you practicing?
3. As it sounds like you are coming back to the trombone, how many years away, and for how long did you play before?
4. How would you rate your improvising "before"? You have stated you would like to improve this area, so what can you do already, or at least, what kinds of changes and tunes are you comfortable improvising on?
I look forward to your response -- I could always give you a stock response, but I'd like to be a little more personal to your issues.
All the best,
Dave
David Marriott, Jr.
1. Working on scales in twelve keys, and modes. Working on increasing range and articulations. Grabbed Jiggs Whighams's book, one of Aebersold's, and working out of those.
2.&3. try to get in five hours a week. Been at it for about five months. Left the horn about 20 years ago, when I played it through high school.
4. ewwww. rough at best. working on 12 bar changes, and taking a stab at diminished scales in the upper range.
LiverLips
David,
Thanks for the informative website!
I'm returning to the Trombone after years away. I'm working on getting some of my chops back, and would like to improve on improvising. So far, I've got some of my range back, and can play two (or more, I've got an f attach) octaves for all twelve keys.
Can you recommend a practice regimine or etudes? The goal is to progress to the point where getting private lessons would make sense.
Thanks for any tips you can provide.