Before Playing
There is very little to assemble on a trombone. All you have to do is place the mouthpiece into the lead pipe. Do this with a gentle twisting motion. Do not hit or pop the mouthpiece into place. This can lead to a stuck mouthpiece. When attaching the slide to the bell section, make sure you don't move the bell section too clse to the slide. You need room for your hand to move and to prevent the bell from hitting the slide, which can result in a dent. Always leave the slide locked when you put your horn down or in the case!
Proper cleaning and lubrication of the main slide is essential to the playing of the trombone. Each time you play, clean the outer slide using a cleaning rod wrapped in cheese-cloth. Wipe off the inner slide and apply either slide oil or slide cream to each of the tubes. If slide cream is used, use only a small amout. Melt it between your fingers. Put it mostly on the stockings (the bottom ends). Put the outer slide on and work it in. Remove any excess. Spray the slide with distilled water from a spray bottle. Spray the slide often during your practice or rehearsal.
Tuning and Playing
To lower the pitch of the trombone, lengthen the instrument by pulling the tuning slide out. To raise the pitch, push the tuning slide in. Individual notes on the trombone can be tuned using quick adjustments on the main slide.
The moisture that accumulates inside the trombone is not "spit." It is condensation from the player's breath-just like the moisture from a steaming kettle that condenses on windows. When this moisture accumulates inside the trombone, it makes it gurgle and has to be released through the water key or spit valve. Open the water key and blow air (don't buzz) into the instrument. Empty your spit valve onto the floor, not on your chair or your neighbor's shoe!
If your mouthpiece gets stuck while you are playing, do not attempt to remove it yourself or have anyone yank it out for you. Forcibly removing a stuck mouthpiece can break the braces on a trombone. Carry the trombone to your teacher (it won't fit in your case) and he or she will remove it with a tool made specially for pulling mouthpieces. To prevent stuck mouthpieces, always insert the mouthpiece gently, don't pop it during rehearsal, and don't use too much pressure while you play.
After playing, remove finger marks with a soft cloth. This will remove perspiration which can damage the lacquer and metal. Do not use polish on lacquered instruments because it can scratch the finish.
Regular Maintenance
A clean trombone works and sounds better than a dirty one. Once a week clean the mouthpiece with warm water and a mouthpiece brush. Help keep the mouthpiece and instrument clean by avoiding gum, candy, and pop before you play. Rinse your mouth if you have been eating anything sweet.
Once a month bathe the trombone. Take the trombone completely apart. Soak all the partsin warm (not hot), mild, soapy water. Run a snake brush or a cleaning rod through all the tubes. Rinse all of the parts off in clean luke-warm water. Don't leave the trombone in the water too long or the lacquer finish can peel off.
Put the trombone back together. Grease the tuning slide. For tuning-slide lubrication you can use petroleum jelly, anhydrous lanolin, or commercial slide grease. Wipe off excess grease.
Care Supplies
1. Slide oil or cream
2. Slide grease
3. Mouthpiece brush
4. Soft cloth
5. Snake brush
6. Cleaning rod and cheesecloth
7. Spray bottle filled with distilled water
Handling
The trombone will dent easily. Dents look ugly, affect the tone of the instrument, and are expensive to remove. Dents in the main slide are a trombonist's nightmre. Smooth slide action is absolutely essential to good trombone playing. Even a small dent in the main slide will hamper the slide action.
The trombone slide is a terrific weapon to use on fellow students in the band rehearsal. By extending the slide you can poke a student sitting three feet away. Resist the temptation! Misusing the slide to poke people, or leaning on the slide when it is resting on the floor, is asking for dents. Always remember to lock your slide when you are not using it. Always put the trombone into its case correctly. Don't cram books and music into your case because the pressure on the tubing can cause damage. Be sure the mouthpiece and other accessories are put away properly so they don't jar loose and cause damage. Remember that the trombone is an expensive instrument-not a toy-and should be handled with care.
