Although I really enjoyed participating in my high schools’ Concert, Marching, and Stage Bands playing the trumpet many years ago, the trombone was actually my first choice of brass instruments. While exactly why my parents guided toward a valved instrument is a mystery, I still got a lot great memories out of The Band experience.
Recently I came upon a free-to-me, 1964 Olds Ambassador Trombone in amazingly good shape. Even though the ‘bone required cleaning, and the case was in need of light repair I was thrilled with the acquisition, and decided that 2014 was a good year to learn a new instrument.
It’s been a week now since I started learning how to play from a Rubank Elementary Method instruction book purchased from a local music shop. While my chops are not yet up to competing with Tommy Dorsey’s rendition of “Marie”, I’m getting the biggest kick out of learning how to play my 50 year-old trombone.
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