SPOCK’S TROMBONE

LISTEN TO SPOCK’S TROMBONE

I wanted to write something that used the full range of trombone sounds. Not “range” in terms of high and low notes, but in terms of the full assortment of sounds available to the trombone.

Beside the normal sound from lips vibrating in the mouthpiece, I used mouth pops, streams of air blown into the mouthpiece without buzzing, clicking the mechanical parts of the horn, playing short puffs of sound, and hitting the bell with a soft mallet (no dents to show for it!).

Sequence that into a groove and you have a complex trombone sound that might have been played by Spock after finishing a rousing game of 3-D chess.

I really like this interesting and well-disposed book. So many good thoughts, facts and tips on alto trombone. Good guidance for the searching alto souls out there. A must-have for the shelves.

– Håkan Björkman, Principal Trombone at Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

I highly recommend Alto Trombone Savvy for players around the world wanting advice on handling the alto trombone at the highest level. Classical and jazz players both share the same challenges, and it’s great to have this book in either bass or alto clef to help answer some of those challenges.

– Carsten Svanberg, International Trombone Soloist and Professor of Trombone at the University of Music and Arts Graz

For anyone interested in learning to play the alto trombone, whether for classical or jazz, this book is a must. Clearly written, with excellent exercises and links to audio examples, Michael Lake has provided the trombone world with a wonderful new resource.

– Ralph Sauer, Former Principal Trombone, Los Angeles Philharmonic