Trombone
I have been playing the trombone since I was 17 years old. I picked it up on a whim (I wanted to go to band camp because I was always bored when all my friends were gone for a week). I approached the band director with my impressive initiative-taking abilities and asked to join the band with a loaner instrument. Uninterested in percussion and untalented with woodwinds and reeds, I settled on a brass instrument. The trumpet was too common and the euphonium and tuba were too heavy--so trombone it was.
Marching & Concert Band
I began learning the trombone during at Lakota West High School in a concert band class, with the Marching Firebirds after school, and in private lessons that I paid for on my own. My senior year, the Marching Firebirds were invited to march the 5.5 miles of the Rose Parade. I had to get pretty good at the trombone and marching pretty quickly. In high school, I was also a member of the district-wide Lakota Trombone Ensemble which is the only time I have performed jazz music.
In college I continued marching band by joining the Kiltie Band who provides stand tunes and half time shows at football games, stand tunes at some basketball games, as well as both winter and spring concerts. As a trombone, I was one of the four parade leaders. This sounds impressive, but mostly we just lead the line, sometimes taking zagging paths around campus, before finally making it to the field.
Orchestral Music
I also branched out in college at CMU by joining the orchestra for non-majors, the All University Orchestra. From my freshman year until present day I have been a member of this orchestra which gives concerts every semester. There, I learned everything I know about composers, classical music, romantic music, modern orchestral music, as well as how to read tenor and alto clef.
Peformances
I began learning the trombone during at Lakota West High School in a concert band class, with the Marching Firebirds after school, and in private lessons that I paid for on my own. My senior year, the Marching Firebirds were invited to march the 5.5 miles of the Rose Parade. I had to get pretty good at the trombone and marching pretty quickly. In high school, I was also a member of the district-wide Lakota Trombone Ensemble which is the only time I have performed jazz music.
In college I continued marching band by joining the Kiltie Band who provides stand tunes and half time shows at football games, stand tunes at some basketball games, as well as both winter and spring concerts. As a trombone, I was one of the four parade leaders. This sounds impressive, but mostly we just lead the line, sometimes taking zagging paths around campus, before finally making it to the field.
Orchestral Music
I also branched out in college at CMU by joining the orchestra for non-majors, the All University Orchestra. From my freshman year until present day I have been a member of this orchestra which gives concerts every semester. There, I learned everything I know about composers, classical music, romantic music, modern orchestral music, as well as how to read tenor and alto clef.
Peformances
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Here are some highlights of one of AUO's recent concerts. This YouTube account also has full recordings of these pieces.
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This is an older video of the AUO performing Rhapsody in Blue with a guest pianist. The trombones are heavily featured!
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Here is a bit about the Kiltie Band camaraderie, music, and traditions.
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The Kiltie Band performs CMU's Fight Song at Homecoming my freshman year of undergraduate studies.
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The Lakota West Marching Firebirds were invited to march in the Rose Parade in 2008. Marching 5.5 miles is very hard.
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I found no recordings that I am in, but this is the Lakota Trombone Ensemble with the Bones of Cincinnatus performing 76 Trombones.
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