Ohio Trombone Day 2015 (Part 2)

Check out this post for Part One in this series featuring trombone events in the state of Ohio.

For the second post in this series, I wanted to wrap up the rest of the events from Ohio Trombone Day. After the Maniacal 4 masterclass, there was a brief break which then was succeeded by a masterclass with Dr. Ben Coy. Having studied in Chicago and recently obtaining his doctorate from the Ohio State University, Ben has been performing in the Midwest for a while. Currently, Ben is the Principal Trombonist in the Springfield Symphony and Second Trombone in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony. By also being a frequent sub in the Columbus Symphony, Ben was able to bring a unique perspective to trombone playing that immediately grabbed the attention of the young musicians. There was no set schedule to who would perform in the masterclass which made it exciting for me as an educator to see many students, both high school and collegiate, step forward and play in front of everyone. Students ranged from playing the beginning of the Larsson Concertino (memorized) to the David Concertino (memorized) to marches for concert band preparation – there even was a talented young musician who was playing the challenging Ropartz Piece on bass trombone (see photo below). You could tell each student who played was eager to learn and wanted to soak in as much knowledge as possible. Whether it was to take a few seconds to think before you play, or think of the direction of the melodic line, or to play to the back of the room, each idea and concept from Ben was consumed by the participants.

As Dr. Coy finished, we moved into the next masterclass given by Rob Phillips from Buckeye Brass and Winds. Rob used to work for Conn-Selmer at their Eastlake, Ohio plant, and now has his own repair shop in the northwest suburbs of Columbus. The masterclass was quite informative for the high school students because it gave them basic knowledge about the different metals used in our instruments as well as the proper procedures for cleaning the inner and outer slide. Rob also brought many different valves to show the students how each one compares to one another. Hopefully after this class, many students will now begin to take better care of their instruments so they can be efficient and at peak performance. Here are some of the supplies mentioned and procedures for cleaning:

Tools to Keep it Clean:
Cleaning Rod
Cleaning Brush
Pledge or Car Wax (to keep it shining)
Cleaning Snake
Mouthpiece Brush
Cleaning Gauze
Cleaning Detergents:
Dawn Dish
Laundry Detergents
White Vinegar
– CLR – diluted!!!
Do Not Use:
Ammonia
Bleach
Car Wash or Wheel Cleaners

The Cleaning Process
1. Wipe off excess
2.Fill sink/tub with WARM water only – teaspoon of detergent and vinegar
3. Soak instrument for 30 minutes
4. hang and dry at least 8 hrs cork barrels in particular
5. Reassemble – check water key corks and springs
6. Confirm the witness marks on rotor valves

After these classes, the event moved into a time of trombone choir rehearsal. Whenever I attend festivals, I always enjoy when there is a participant choir because it just gives the trombonists a chance to play in a setting that they may never have experienced. It also provides for great camaraderie among high school students, college students, amateurs, professors, and professionals.

As the interactive sessions came to a close, the day ended with a concert featuring the Ohio University Trombone Choir, the Participant Trombone Choir, and Maniacal 4. The packed house surely enjoyed each ensemble. Maniacal 4 played much variety in their program and were backed by the faculty rhythm section from Ohio University. Maniacal’s program included everything from original compositions to quartet standards to arrangements of classic rock songs. In each song, there was a great blend between all members which resulted in raising the bar of excellence for the listener.

As the day wrapped up, the 2015 Ohio Trombone Day was a great success. Over 40 trombonists were involved and were able to interact with professionals and educators. Kudos to the Ohio University Trombone Studio for coordinating an excellent event. Thanks to Ben Coy, Rob Phillips, and Maniacal 4 for their excellent spirit in promoting the trombone. A special thanks to Dr. Lucas Borges for spearheading this year’s event as well as organizing and bringing all of these great artists to one location. Hopefully, this event will continue to grow in the future and more students will be able to attend next year’s Ohio Trombone Day.

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