INTRODUCTION
“No band can sound outstanding with a poor
trombone section or poor trombone playing.”
“The Trombone Section can make or break the band.”
These statements certainly deserve attention. The Trombone
Section is vital to the success of any large ensemble because it
is here that the fundamentals and foundations of the band are
determined. One might say, “I thought the trumpets determined the
quality of the band.” Of course they are necessary and important,
just as are the other instruments; however, the trombones are the
hidden core of the band. It’s the trombones who “make the sound
of the ensemble.” Why is this? The answer has several primary
components, most important are the principles of the acoustics
of sound and the science of music. All sounds are made up of
vibrations, and all vibrations produce sympathetic vibrations. This
is especially true with low pitches in that they produce overtones
which in turn blend with the same notes that the higher pitched
instruments are playing. If the trombone section is in tune and
producing a good quality tone, the overtones will dominate the
higher frequencies and make the higher pitched instruments sound
outstanding whether they are or not.
Consequently, the topic of this document, “Building A Better
Trombone Section Through the Trombone Choir or Ensemble,”
is timely and important. This subject applies to both bands and
orchestras, though for the purpose of our discussion, emphasis will
be placed on the trombones in the band due to the fact that they
form a major component of the overall sound and quality, while in an
orchestra the basic sound and playing of the group is formed with
the strings. The purpose of strengthening the Trombone Section is
to ultimately make the large ensemble better.