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[slidemansailor]

The Adult Ed Blues Band project is working.  Not exactly as I had imagined, but it doubled the minimum number of 5 signups in order to go forward as a class.

I went to the first night prepared for ten horn players of various skill levels, but all with a foundation of music reading and some familiarity with their instruments.

I found myself in front of ten guitar players, one who could read music, two who could read TAB and the rest auditory learners who just have to hear a song over and over to get it. 

Week two I had guitar-friendly music, having discarded the  F, B-flat, E-flat keys horns normally use in exchange for the keys of C, G and D that the string guys live in.  I ended up working one tune for half an hour, discarding three and touching on two more that seemed to work.

Next Saturday evening we will continue to evolve that pattern. I have four more songs that are similar to the ones that we were able to play tolerably last week. I am thinking this can be made to work.

I also continue to attempt recruitment of a second or more lead instruments.  It is way too lonely at the top.

[slidemansailor]

I tugged, pulled, pleaded and cajoled, but could not keep the Bitterroot Blues Band project alive.  Darn spectator society anyway.

Tonight I packed my upright bass off to the regular Thursday evening bluegrass jam for the first time in a year.  I was pleasantly surprised to hold up my end of the bargain. It came right back to me, and my fingers lasted as long as the jam did.  There is something to be said for working with a really simple musical form.

[slidemansailor]

* BREAKTHROUGH *

Trying every creative marketing trick I could come up with ... no joy.  Been in the boonies since 2013 without finding a group to share trombone music with.

Until now.  I have just formed a Trombone Quartet ... could become a Trombone Choir.
I have three other trombonists and a place to practice on a weekly schedule.

[Bill St. Clair]

I have just formed a Trombone Quartet ... could become a Trombone Choir.
I have three other trombonists and a place to practice on a weekly schedule.

Cool. I just finished the summer season for the concert band I play trombone in. Choir starts in a couple of weeks, for winter (Luigi Cheubini's Medea in Italian) and spring concerts, then back to the band in the summer of 2020.

[slidemansailor]

The nearby Presbyterian Church gave me the keys to a practice venue.
I've passed out the charts to our designated 1st, 2nd and bass trombones...
I own 3rd cuz it's my choir and that is where I want to be.
Interestingly, there was no contesting at all.
1st wanted to be 1st, 2nd wanted to be 2nd, my dream is 3rd
and far away our best musician is a bass trombonist with extreme range.
Charts I bought look like a lot of fun:
Amazing Grace, Danny Boy, The Entertainer, Star Spangled Banner, St. James Infirmary and William Tell Overture
I get enough solos to express my sound, but am not asked to spend a lot of time above F.  I'm working on getting the Gs and A-flats, but that is a growth area for me.

[Bill St. Clair]

It looks like I may start playing in a swing band next week. Will post here if I do.

I've been playing the second part in the summer concert band. I like it, because it rarely goes above G. When I used to play first, I was comfortable up to C an octave above middle C.

[slidemansailor]

I am now inspired by the trombone "choir" (quartet for now) I have started. That motivates me to practice more which, in turn, improves my skills.  I also bought a Wedge mouthpiece that I believe helps my range and stamana. 

Whichever part or combination is hard to prove, but Gs and As are starting to come to me like Fs used to. An occasional B-flat is in reach... which used to be unobtainable.

I've always been attracted to the low, sweet notes of the trombone. Those scoring trombone music want some high notes too.  I hope to have such range someday.