TromboneChat

How do you 'play' animal sounds on a Trombone?

A couple months ago our brass ensemble played "Markham Fair Suite" where the trombones are asked to simulate a cow sound.  The written music called for us to play a low note (F# at the bottom of Bass Clef if I recall correctly).  We really didn't sound much like a cow - not like the trumpet whiny simulating a horse on 'Sleigh Ride' for instance.

However, on Thursday the Tuba player from the Koblenz (Germany) Military Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble played an excellent cow sound (check the Workshop Thursday morning stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaIgl15lQvU at ~1:26:00 or a little earlier if you'd like to hear Edelweiss on cow bells).

Are animal sounds the purview of valve instruments or does the Trombone have something to offer? Cows, Fish, Horses, Bears; any tips on making animal sounds on a trombone?  Extra credit for links to video or sound files.

Never been able to do fish sounds on a trombone, but you can sing into the instrument to do a cow noise.  Or start on F, gliss up about a third, and back off a whole step.

There is an old Dixieland tune where a number of animal sounds are required.  It goes under the name of "Barnyard Blues" or "Livery Stable Blues".

Quote from: TriJim on Today at 10:38 AMHowever, on Thursday the Tuba player from the Koblenz (Germany) Military Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble played an excellent cow sound (check the Workshop Thursday morning stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaIgl15lQvU at ~1:26:00 or a little earlier if you'd like to hear Edelweiss on cow bells).


I'm guessing the cow noise on the tuba is some sort of a half-valve technique

Quote from: robcat2075 on Today at 11:53 AM
I'm guessing the cow noise on the tuba is some sort of a half-valve technique

Hard to tell - He's off camera when he makes the first and best cow sound.  He may have valves open or half-pressed when he makes later sounds.  Maybe he is just singing into the instrument.  Any Tuba or Euphonium players here to share the secret?

I tried 'half-valve' with the trombone and not much luck.  Slow gliss from low F is a good start, but I can't seem to get a good 'ooo' sound.

Quote from: robcat2075 on Today at 11:53 AM
I'm guessing the cow noise on the tuba is some sort of a half-valve technique

Hard to tell - He's off camera when he makes the first and best cow sound.  He may have valves open or half-pressed when he makes later sounds.  Maybe he is just singing into the instrument.  Any Tuba or Euphonium players here to share the secret?

I tried 'half-valve' with the trombone and not much luck.  Slow gliss from low F is a good start, but I can't seem to get a good 'ooo' sound.