The trombone requires a few different supplies, all of which are very important.

• Slide oil - for the trombone's slide to work and move properly it must be lubricated. The cleaning kit below has an cream and water system - spread a thin layer of slide cream on the inner slide and spray with water as needed. There are also all-in-one lubricants, such as Slide-o-mix, which is what I recommend simply because it's the easiest thing to use and keep track of.

• Slide grease - the trombone has a tuning slide that requires different grease, and it needs to be lubricated every so often to keep it moving.

• Mouthpiece brush - to clean out the mouthpiece. 5th grade band is right after lunch, so it's especially important for brass players to clean out their mouthpieces regularly.

• Cleaning snake - brass players should "bathe" their instruments at least twice a year to prevent the build up of particulates, bacteria, etc. inside their instrument. The cleaning snake lets them scrub the inside of the instrument.

• Tradition of Excellence Trombone Book 1

All of the cleaning and maintenance supplies can be found in cleaning kits. The only thing that will need to be replaced regularly is the slide lubricant (every few months). The slide grease may need to be replaced every few years.

Trombone is one of the instruments students can start band on. It is a brass instrument and requires blowing/buzzing through a mouthpiece to produce sound. Multiple pitches can be produced with one slide position, so it is important that students wanting to play trumpet are able to match pitch (singing, buzzing on the mouthpiece, and playing).

Mrs. Topp hosts a try out night at SES each spring for 4th graders to try each of the different starter band instruments (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and percussion). All students are STRONGLY encouraged to try all of these instruments before making a definite decision.

A person's success on an instrument is largely influenced by the effort and time that is dedicated to learning and practicing the instrument. However, there are some physical characteristics that can make playing the flute easier. Click on the link below to read more.

trombone flip folder

Trombone students in 7th grade and up will need to purchase a flip folder that looks similar to the picture above. There are separate trombone lyres (metal pieces that connect to the instrument) and flip folders, but they don't always fit the instrument and aren't recommended. The flip folder that clips onto the bell is easier to use and requires fewer pieces. The links below are for Amazon, but you can find these flip folders at any music store.

What trombone should i buy?

Best Brands: Yamaha, Bach, Conn

Good Brands: Blessing, Bundy, King, Selmer, Jupiter

Avoid these Brands: Mendini, Kaizer, Eastar, Eastrock, Glory, Jean Paul, pTrombone, Tromba

upgraded supplies

Mouthpieces - Mouthpieces are a relatively inexpensive way to improve a trombone player's sound and expand their range. Trombones are a tenor instrument, and especially in high school, it is important that they're able to reach high and low notes and achieve good tone quality on both.

Most trombones come with a 12C mouthpiece (smaller bore), and those are okay for beginners. After a student has developed a consistent sound, they should try other mouthpieces to help them expand their range and darken their tone. My personal recommendation is a Bach 6 1/2 AL mouthpiece; it has a larger bore which is conducive to a darker tone, but requires more air. If you aren't fond of the 6 1/2 AL, a 7C can also be a good option.

There are a lot of trombone mouthpieces out there, but there are a handful that are really reliable and all-around good mouthpieces. You probably won't have to try very many to find a mouthpiece that you like better than your 12C. It is still very important to try mouthpieces before you buy them. Ask your band teacher or private teacher if they have mouthpieces you can try.

THREE IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Trombones either have a small shank or large shank. Most regular trombones ("straight horns") use small shank mouthpieces. F attachment trombones (extra tubing, not a normal beginner instrument) usually use large bore mouthpieces. If you don't know what you have, ask your teacher.

• There are tenor trombones and bass trombones. Tenor trombones are the "default" trombone; bass trombones are bigger and heavier, and you probably don't have one.

• Different mouthpiece brands' numbering systems are not the same as each others' necessarily. Refer to a comparison chart to see equivalent mouthpieces.

Trombone stand - instrument stands are really nice to have when going back and forth between playing your instrument and something else that requires both hands (writing on music, looking through music, etc). This is a safe way for a student to set their instrument down without the danger of tripping over it on the floor. Plus, the trombone is a somewhat large, awkward instrument; the safest way to set it down is on the floor, but it takes up a fair amount of space. It's not easy trying to get out of a row of chairs with trombones sitting on the floor.

Mutes - Students who are serious about playing trombone and are thinking about playing in college (as a major or recreationally) should consider purchasing a few different mutes. Mutes are devices that trombone players put in the bell of their instrument to alter their sound for different musical effects. Muted brass instruments can frequently be heard in old cartoon music (like Looney Toons).

The straight mute is the most commonly used mute, followed by the plunger mute, cup mute, and the harmon mute, although mutes aren't used as frequently with trombones as they are with trumpets. Plunger mutes are often used in jazz charts or jazz-style concert pieces, but you don't have to buy special equipment for that; you can use a (clean) toilet plunger, minus the handle. You can also purchase plunger mutes that are a little easier to hold onto than toilet plungers.