Are you a trombone addict?

[tbdana]

There's something wrong with me.

I love playing the trombone. I want to do it all the time, it's all I want to talk about, all I think about. Last night I dreamed about my bass trombone. I buzz in the shower. I keep a mouthpiece in the car to buzz on while I'm driving. I'm an hour early to rehearsals just so I can get in some more playing time. This morning I checked this website first thing with my coffee and was disappointed there were so few new posts. Every day I prowl YouTube for more trombone videos. Last night while practicing I ran upstairs to brag to my spouse about getting a loud, solid double-Db (my goal is a usable double-F).

I have a trombone problem.

Am I the only one? Are the rest of you sensible and keep trombone in a healthy life balance?

Consider this your Trombonaholics Anonymous meeting and tell us about your addiction. Who wants to speak first?

[hyperbolica]

ABSOLUTELY NOT! I AM NOT AN ADDICT. TO TROMBONE OR ANY OTHER THING THAT HELPS ME AVOID WORK!


maybe just a victim of denial. BUT NOT AN ADDICT!

[Doug Elliott]

Denali is a mountain in Alaska.

You're just making up for all those years you quit playing.
I used to be that way but now I only play when I have a gig. Right now I'm totally out of shape and I have a series of big band gigs later this week, so I'm actually practicing.

[MStarke]

Yes. Dreamt about finally playing contra again two nights ago. First thing I want to do when I have free time to my own disposal is often playing the trombone. My wife is Very tolerating towards this...

[Burgerbob]

Yup

[Savio]

Yes, I'm totally addicted. More and more sadly. The best thing in the morning after a coffee is to think; YES, I'm going to make some long notes on my trombone! Then maybe a bordogni or slurs, maybe a Sinatra tune. Listen some youtube videos with George Roberts, maybe Denson Paul Pollard, Dave Taylor, Ian Bousfield or any other trombone star. Maybe Sinatra or Yo Yo Ma to get some ideas. Urbie Green, J.J Johnson if I dear to try improvise. My youtube videos turn more and more to food recipes when the stomach begins to rumble Anyway, I'm so glad I have the opportunity to wake up and know I'm going to play my bass trombone. It makes the coffee taste so good! It makes me ready to teach some kids later on...

Leif

[tbdana]

You're just making up for all those years you quit playing.

I'm sure you're right. I realize that I let 30 years pass by and I don't have that many years left, so I'm just going for it while I still can. At some point my upward trajectory from coming back is going to meet up with my downward trajectory from getting old, and I want to get as good as I can before Father Time claims his inevitable victory.

I used to be that way but now I only play when I have a gig.

I know a lot of great players who are like that. You guys can do that because you aren't starting from scratch again. I hope to never stop practicing, but we'll see!

[VJOFan]

Anyone who comes here is an addict to some degree….

I went through withdrawal last night. I played a gig during the day for which I had been practicing regularly for a few weeks. I didn’t have to practice last night, but At 7 PM, my practice window, I started feeling restless and didn’t know what to do with myself. My body wanted to practice. It just took a bit before my brain listened.

I felt very mellow a half hour later.

[imsevimse]

Am I the only one? Are the rest of you sensible and keep trombone in a healthy life balance?

No, you're not alone. I am not sane, and I don't mind.

/Tom

[Digidog]

I don't know what, exactly, constitutes a trombone addict; if it is playing the trombone or hoarding horns - or both.

When it comes to definition, I love to play, to practise and to find new ways for both, so in that regard I'm addicted to being with my instruments and playing them whenever possible. However: I do not own very many horns, compared to what many here seem to do.

So I'm addicted to the practise, I guess.

[heldenbone]

Not an addict (yet), but quite the avid consumer. My problem is that I keep getting offers of filthy lucre to play trumpet, for example the recent all-John-Williams concert - principal for Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Close Encounters, Memoires of a Geisha, Harry Potter, Schindler's List, Cowbows Overture. Finally got to spend some quality time on the bass again this week. Missed it.

[Bach5G]

I can quit any time I want.

[Finetales]

All brass rather than just trombone, but yes. And weird alto brass instruments are my hardest drug.