Why wasn't I allowed to play the trombone?

momo56 · 14 May 2011 at 21:09

When I was 10 some guy came to school to teach people to play brass instruments.

A lot of us wanted to learn to play the trombone. He made only a select few of us including me sing 'la la la' and then from there a few of us including me were then told that we were unable to play the trombone and had to go back to class.

My question is how does saying 'la la la' determine wheter or not you are able to learn to play the trombone ?

Alex74 · 14 May 2011 at 21:11

Diaphragm strength maybe? :confused:

contracteur · 14 May 2011 at 21:11

I'd imagine he was checking out your action to see how well you could play his trombone.

IceBus · 14 May 2011 at 21:12

To see whether you've got perfect or relative pitch.

RomanNose · 14 May 2011 at 21:13

They make you do La la la to check if you are a zombie by looking at your teeth, if you aren't you can use the trombone as you won't infect other people.

It's a conspiracy.

jmc007 · 14 May 2011 at 21:21

contracteur said:
I'd imagine he was checking out your action to see how well you could play his trombone.

topgun06 · 14 May 2011 at 21:22

contracteur said:
I'd imagine he was checking out your action to see how well you could play his trombone.

LOL... but going on this, it seems like you had a lucky escape!

Rroff · 14 May 2011 at 21:25

topgun06 said:
LOL... but going on this, it seems like you had a lucky escape!

this

Broken Hope · 14 May 2011 at 21:27

I guess you won't get to be this guy then?

memyselfandi · 14 May 2011 at 21:30

IceBus said:
To see whether you've got perfect or relative pitch.

It'll be this, whilst there will be set slide positions which, combined with your embouchure, allow you to create the different pitches of notes you will need to have a reasonable ear for pitch in order to fine tune your playing.

IceBus · 14 May 2011 at 21:40

memyselfandi said:
It'll be this, whilst there will be set slide positions which, combined with your embouchure, allow you to create the different pitches of notes you will need to have a reasonable ear for pitch in order to fine tune your playing.

We're obviously the boring conventional blokes of this thread...

Fenris · 14 May 2011 at 21:51

Well you could always find a friend and play the rusty trombone.

scrlk · 14 May 2011 at 21:54

http://www.sadtrombone.com/

Meridian · 14 May 2011 at 22:27

memyselfandi said:
It'll be this, whilst there will be set slide positions which, combined with your embouchure, allow you to create the different pitches of notes you will need to have a reasonable ear for pitch in order to fine tune your playing.

This. All the other brass instruments (and woodwind for that matter) have absolute pitch set by opening and closing valves, but trombone requires the slide to be precisely opened to a point set solely by the player. The player gets feedback from the note they create to tell if they've got it right. If you haven't got perfect pitch - or a good copy - then you won't get the slide position correct. For the same reason stringed instruments are out, with the possible exception of the guitar.

M

FutileBreadMachine · 14 May 2011 at 22:36

Fenris said:
Well you could always find a friend and play the rusty trombone.

Ah there you are, only took 12 posts for someone to say it

. Well done sir.

~>Dg<~ · 14 May 2011 at 22:39

lol my grandad used to teach people to play the trumpet by spitting paper :confused:

Alex74 · 14 May 2011 at 22:52

Meridian said:
This. All the other brass instruments (and woodwind for that matter) have absolute pitch set by opening and closing valves, but trombone requires the slide to be precisely opened to a point set solely by the player. The player gets feedback from the note they create to tell if they've got it right. If you haven't got perfect pitch - or a good copy - then you won't get the slide position correct. For the same reason stringed instruments are out, with the possible exception of the guitar.

M

I wouldnt take it that far

. But yea agreed that you need to be able to differentiate notes in your ear to tell when you're in the right place precisely.

GreatAuk · 14 May 2011 at 23:33

Reminds me of some music people that came to my primary school to show us instruments. They had us in different groups though, and each group only got shown a few instruments. I really wanted the see the saxophone, but my group didn't get it.

Disappointed about that to this day.

Biohazard · 14 May 2011 at 23:35

GreatAuk said:
Reminds me of some music people that came to my primary school to show us instruments. They had us in different groups though, and each group only got shown a few instruments. I really wanted the see the saxophone, but my group didn't get it.
Disappointed about that to this day.

In America that'd be reason enough to go back and shoot the place up..

Amp34 · 15 May 2011 at 00:16

After hearing Harold from Neighbours playing his trombone I think you(r family) had a lucky escape!