TromboneChat

Hello all,
My daughter recently started playing trombone. She's using an old Holton student model that's been in the family a while. Her hands are very small and it's hard for her to hold it. What kind of things can we put on that horn that will help? Wise grip? Neotech? Etc...

My issue has always been fitting my big gorilla mitts on a horn. Her size clearly comes from my wife's side of the family.

I use this. You can support the whole trombone on the back of your hand. If she cannot hold up the weight like that then maybe a ergo bone would be best until she gets a little older.

https://www.neotechstraps.com/trombone-grip.html

ChadA wrote: ↑Wed Jun 01, 2022 11:08 am Hello all,
My daughter recently started playing trombone. She's using an old Holton student model that's been in the family a while. Her hands are very small and it's hard for her to hold it. What kind of things can we put on that horn that will help? Wise grip? Neotech? Etc...

My issue has always been fitting my big gorilla mitts on a horn. Her size clearly comes from my wife's side of the family.

A lot of little kids find putting the left thumb UNDER the neckpipe helps. It’s fine for kids. They can hold the horn correctly when they get a bit older.

"Correctly" LOL
I have to hold some horns that way

Doug Elliott wrote: ↑Wed Jun 01, 2022 12:17 pm "Correctly" LOL
I have to hold some horns that way

I hold my bass that way if my left hand gets tired sometimes. I guess “traditionally” or something would have been a better word.

When I started playing as a youngster with my small hands, the finger ring on my Olds Ambassador A-20 w/ F Attachment was a godsend!

I usually hold straight horns with the left thumb in the gooseneck, more or less pointed at my left ear. This allows the oppositional thumb to leverage efficiently against the fingers wrapped around the gooseneck.

Try grabbing someone’s forefinger with your thumb and fingers wrapped around their forefinger. If they pull their forefinger away, you most probably won’t be able to retain your grip on their forefinger. Now try grabbing the same forefinger with your fingers wrapped around their forefinger and your thumb laying on top of their forefinger, pointing up their arm. As your volunteer tries to take his forefinger back, you should be able to retain the forefinger.

Chad: is it a straight trombone or an F attachement one?

PaKETaZ wrote: ↑Wed Jun 01, 2022 2:49 pm Chad: is it a straight trombone or an F attachement one?

Straight.

Neotech is my vote.

Make sure she is holding it correctly - I see a lot of beginners try to hold it with just their fingers, their palm is in mid-air and their elbow is pressed against their body, so their wrist is bent at a 90-degree angle. Even the ones with small hands seem to do OK once they get the lower cork barrel resting on their palm.
Also, if the Holton is nose-heavy, of course that puts a lot of stress on the hand.

Straps are inexpensive but can be helpful. Leather Specialties/Hickey offer different sizes.

A Get A Grip or Jonathan Pippen’s grip may work.