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	Resources For: College and Professional Students Adult Avocational Players High School Players Middle School Players Elementary School Players Parents Home School Parents Band Directors Private Teachers Complete Site Index My Bio About My Teaching My Intermediate Methods		How Can a Bass Trombonist Teach Trumpet? I hope that my students and their families care deeply about the quality of their instruction, so I hope they will ask, "How can a bass trombonist teach trumpet and tuba?" The answer is by thoroughly understanding the similarities and differences between the instruments, and by investing time in developing competence in trumpet and tuba. Professional brass players work, study, and travel together, and one tends to build up a great deal of knowledge about the individual brass instruments. The brass instruments are all one family and work by vibrating the lips into a cup shaped mouthpiece connected to a metal tube of variable length. The trombone changes tube length with the slide, while trumpet, tuba, euphonium, and horn use valves. The trombone uses seven slide positions and the trumpet also has seven different tube lengths using the three valves. Each trombone position corresponds exactly with a valve combination, but the trombone sounds one octave lower than trumpet, and one octave higher than tuba. first position = open (no valves) second position = 2nd valve third position = 1st valve fourth position = 1st and 2nd valves, or 3rd valve fifth position = 2nd and 3rd valves sixth position = 1st and 3rd valves seventh position = 1st, 2nd, and 3rd valves Many notes can be played in each position or valve combination and the patterns of these are the same for any brass instrument (called the overtone series). There are also differences between the instruments a teacher must learn, eg, different clefs and transpositions, instrument care tips, etc. A teacher must also invested in purchasing a sizable music library for each instrument he regularly teaches. There are subtle differences as well. Tuba, trombone, and trumpet are on different ends of the spectrum of brass instruments and sometimes require different approaches. For example, a firm embouchure is more important for beginning trumpeters than tubists. Before I started teaching trumpet, I obtained an instrument, and gave myself trumpet lessons. At first it felt terrible, as the muscle settings are different from trombone, but with a little steady practice, things got much better and I was able to demonstrate a good sound on the trumpet. This process gave me more sympathy for beginning students and proved that even if you are going about brass playing exactly right, good results take time and patience. New things tend to feel "wrong", but start to feel "right" over time. I currently do most of my demonstration playing on trombone in order to give my best quality musical example, but I keep a trumpet mouthpiece in my teaching bag because some students need to hear an example of a good trumpet sound instead of just a good brass sound. As a general rule, the good habits of brass playing, the fundamentals of musicianship, and the teaching process stay the same. I continue to teach trumpet and tuba because I enjoy the challenge and am pleased with the results my students have achieved. I do encourage my trumpet and tuba students to work with a specialist in their instrument as they get older and/or feel the need. If you have any questions or concerns on the matter, please feel free to E-mail or call me.