What age/size would you start a child on the trombone? Do they have to be able to reach 7th position - or is it the mouth and lungs that matter? Also, would it be best to start a young child on the trumpet then swap instruments later?

I started on cornet instead of trumpet when I was 6, so maybe a trombone may be too big for a child of about 6/7. Starting them off on a trumpet may not be a good idea though if they want to move on trombone cuz the trumpet playing needs a certain embouchere, which isn't ideal for trombone playing. Hope that made sense. Myabe try another instrument thats nothing like the trombone so that the child can get the hang of the actual music etc. first

My son began at 8. The teacher said he had to have his 8 front second teeth. He can reach 6th position. Progress has been slow though. He is 9 now.

An interesting and much debated topic...
In the band where i learnt begginers learnt for a few terms on cornet, to master the basics such as producing a sound and fingering, then at the start of the 3rd term everyone is asked whether they would like change to annother instrument, in such a short time i don't think that a strong embouchure can be built- especially at the start of a persons time playing, so changing instrument might not be such a problem as it is for more developed players who have spent years developing their embouchure. For trombone i would think that it is good to start at an age when all the positions are reachable, but there are "mini trobones" and some with valves so save the stretch to seventh position, so prehaps being able to reach 7th position isn't such a big deal for someone starting to learn the instrument.

I played as a child. Can't remember quite what age I started, but I'm guessing about 6 or 7.

Unlike jon's school we all had a go on all the brass and woodwind, and what we ended up playing depended on a) whether we could get a sound out of it and how much we liked it. I ended up on the trombone because I was the only kid who could make a noise.

There's a growing shortage of players - in our local area, they're providing free instruments and tuition to anyone who'll take it up. So I guess encouraging kids to start younger is a good idea.

My daughter wants to take up the trombone having got to try it in her music theory class. The children in the class were (at the time) aged between 7 1/2 and 8 1/2. Obviously the teacher thought they were old enough to take it up as the point of his coming into their class was to try and recruit new pupils.

Practices obviously differ between countries (we live in France) as the other two instruments she got to try at the same time as the trombone were the French horn and the oboe. I can't imagine English 7 1/2 year olds being encouraged to start either of these.

I can't quite reach 7th position position on my trombone and I'm 18!! Although it is a rather large trom




The only thing is a soprano trombone, or slide trumpet actually has the mouthpiece of a trumpet, and is essentially a variation on a trumpet, in terms of learning to play, rather than trombone.

I started when i was 8 and could never reach 7th postition and struggled with 6th position but i managed fine... Progess was slow but has recently sped up

[quote name='jonscott14' post='331183' date='May 27 2006, 08:53 PM']
For trombone i would think that it is good to start at an age when all the positions are reachable, but there are "mini trobones" and some with valves so save the stretch to seventh position?
[/quote]

The only thing is a soprano trombone, or slide trumpet actually has the mouthpiece of a trumpet, and is essentially a variation on a trumpet, in terms of learning to play, rather than trombone.
[/quote]

Actually, Yamaha make a mini trombone which has a button to press (much like a trigger) for 6th position and is about half the size and weight of a regular trombone but does use a trombone mouthpiece - they are around about £350 I think. Also, there are alto trombones.

Alto trombones are OK, but if you want to play in a group there's not much call for them - they appear orchestrally, they can be used in jazz and for renessance (sp?). You'd be better off just starting on a small tenor.

I was speaking to my trombone teacher about the Yamaha trombones with a trigger for 6th position and simially instruments and she said that they are not very good and if you are going to start to play trombone then you should start on a proper instrument.!!!! But thats what she said....

As long as they can hold it correctly and have the right embrochure then they can start when ever they like.
Getting the positions on a trombone isnt much to worry about when you first start, that comes later. Its getting the sound right first thats important.

good luck!!

tommy