Next to me about a meter away is my trombone. It's sitting in its case pointing upwards (the case is constructed in a way that the bell sits on the ground -- while being in the case, of course). The case is still in pretty good shape with a few mild scrapes here and there. The Yamaha symbol is fading but still visible.
Inside the case is a swell Yamaha jazz trombone. This model is actually used by many professionals in the world, most likely because of the size of the bell. It's slightly smaller than the oh-so-popular King trombone, thus giving it a slightly sharper (?) and brighter sound. As far as a trombone goes, I have no complaints.
For the past six months or so, I think I've touched the thing roughly five times. If this was a newly-wed wife, I'd probably be in line for a divorce pretty soon. Luckily, me and this trombone have been together for about seven and a half years so we've been though some rough times and probably won't get that divorce… at least that's what I'm telling myself.
Perhaps, you're wondering why I can't open the case on a regular basis, play a few notes and enjoy the sound of the instrument. Well, things just aren't that simple.
Pick it up and play what. Scales, arpeggios, long tones. I've gone through this process for almost twenty years… and I hate to say this but things aren't getting much better with the instrument. Whatever I play seems to sound… crappy.
The trombone's a bitch of an instrument. For me the trickiest thing about the instrument is operating the tongue properly. Without a quick tongue, you're doomed to be a clumsy trombone player. My tongue isn't the quickest gun in the west.
What are the solutions? Get a new tongue… but I'd much rather get a new brain. Buy a new instrument… but then I'd have to learn everything from scratch. It's tough…
Well, this is all becoming a little big negative. Tomorrow, I'll pick up the thing for twenty minute in the morning… and play some clumsy music. Oh boy!
