my wrist hurts

[danrothmusic]

I know what you guys are thinking...get your minds outta the gutter :rolleyes:

So I use a Yamaha student model for marching band because it is lightweight, especially compared to my Bach Omega (Bach makes heavy horns in general, and the attachment adds even more weight). We had our first show yesterday, and I used my Bach because it sounds soooo much better than the Yamaha, and I eliminate the far-out slide positions because of the attachment. However, I go from using a lightweight horn and never touching mine for about 2 months, straight to holding up my heavy horn for 8 hours without much rest or time to put it down (and given the amount of time we spent playing, the time resting was negligible).
I woke up this morning and could hardly move my wrist, which does not bode well for a percussion major.
I have it wrapped right now, but still, it's not good


on the up note, the show went pretty well :p

[sunburstbasser]

Which wrist is it? It sounds to me more like a balance issue than a weight issue.

Good to hear the show was good, though!:thu:

[danrothmusic]

well, it's my right wrist, which tells me that I'm supporting the horn too much on the slide
but we also have a lot of 16th notes to play really quickly in a song that we used about every other time-out--I think that may have something to do with it, too

[sunburstbasser]

One of the better trombone players we've had up here used to use the slide with just the tips of his fingers. If you aren't doing that, give it a try. He was able to get the slide around quicker than the other guys, it seemed, and more smoothly. It also made sure he wasn't supporting the horn with his right hand!

You could also try adding some weight to the portion behind you, making your left hand more centered. Maybe some fishing weights wrapped around the tubing?:lol:

[danrothmusic]

I'll try that, thank you
(proper slide technique is more finger-based anyways...)

[soundministries]

Correct, all of the horns weight should be in the left had so that the right hand can move freely. When I play I only use my thumb index and middle finger on my slide and only with a very light touch.

[danrothmusic]

yeah, that's what I was trying for, and thought I was getting...I was wrong

[Alan1123]

Sheesh! You're playing in a marching band - and yer worried about the tonal qualities of yer horn??? Like - who can tell! :eek:

:p

I mean - I can understand wanting to sound good 'n all - but in the crowd in the stands can't tell.

Use the cheapo light horn for Marching Band gigs - the good horn when it really counts!

ehhh - my $0.02 . . . . ;)

[sunburstbasser]

There is a point to this!:D

[danrothmusic]

yeah, I guess....

but I just can't stand the sound of Yamaha horns (the reason I registered on this site was to advise someone against them!), and I know the audience can't tell, but I can
and in the last show, we had a right slide and I had to play in 6th position--the trigger helped me!

[Kuhnfyoozed]

One of the better trombone players we've had up here used to use the slide with just the tips of his fingers. If you aren't doing that, give it a try. He was able to get the slide around quicker than the other guys, it seemed, and more smoothly. It also made sure he wasn't supporting the horn with his right hand!

You could also try adding some weight to the portion behind you, making your left hand more centered. Maybe some fishing weights wrapped around the tubing?:lol:

The way I've always heard the fingertips thing is thumb, index and middle. Thats how it was taught in my beginning band. (I'm no trombonist, but my little brother just finished up beginning band and loves to share information with me.)

[Kuhnfyoozed]

Sheesh! You're playing in a marching band - and yer worried about the tonal qualities of yer horn??? Like - who can tell! :eek:

:p

I mean - I can understand wanting to sound good 'n all - but in the crowd in the stands can't tell.

Use the cheapo light horn for Marching Band gigs - the good horn when it really counts!

ehhh - my $0.02 . . . . ;)

I practice with a super light yamaha tenor sax, and I do shows with my super heavy cannonball tenor. To split the difference, I wear some light wristweights the two practices or so before the shows.