What’s in My Case: Tenor Edition

Oftentimes on blogs, I will read a post about “What’s in My Bag?” and it is quite fascinating to see all the gadgets and gizmos that people carrying with them. So today I decided to feature what I carry in my tenor trombone case wherever I go. Everything in my case allows me to function on the go, and I can practice wherever there is a enough room for my slide to move. Some items are not top of the line or ideal, BUT they allow me to do my job well.

1. Wolfpak Trombone Case – When I bought the horn, this case came with it. It is not my ideal case mainly due to where the slide is stored (this kind of case is better for the slide). However, I do like this case for two reasons – its weight and storage. It is fairly light to carry from gig to gig and the storage side pouch (not shown) allows me to carry a music stand and sheet music wherever I go. Also, not shown is one ProTec shoulder strap with metal clips (an older version).
2. Shires T47LW Slide – In February 2016, I purchased this horn from the widow of my dad’s trombone teacher. It is a customized horn that was made in the early 2000s.
3. Shires 2RM Bell with Rotor Valve – This is a tw0-piece bell (2) made of rose brass (R) and is of medium weight (M).
4. Shires Vintage 2G Mouthpiece – I have had this mouthpiece for almost four years and has been a great mouthpiece. Its design is based off the Bach Mount Vernon 3G mouthpiece.
5. Griego-Alessi 1F Mouthpiece – Because one mouthpiece is not enough for a case… This is one of the largest tenor mouthpieces that Griego makes. I bought it off of a student, and really liked it mainly because it helps with my transition between tenor and bass.
6. Max Schlossberg: Daily Drills and Technical Studies for Trombone – These studies really help with general routine work as well as moving throughout the horn. Did you get your Schlossberg in today?
7. Brad Edwards: Lip Slur Melodies – I purchased this book a few months ago for a variety of reasons. First off, you can’t go wrong with any book that Brad writes for brass players. Anything he writes is good for your playing. In this book, I love that he focuses so much on the natural slurs. I also like that he has many, challenging duets. Did I mention that this books really makes you work?
8. Generic Shining Cloth – Keep your horn shiny and it will last for a lifetime.
9. Water Bottle
10. Giardinelli Valve & Slide Oil – I do use other valve oils for my other horns mainly because each valve is made in a different way and certain oils work better depending on the thickness of the oil. The real truth for having this oil? It was the only kind the local music store had when I was in a pinch for some valve oil.
11. Ultra-Pure Trombone Slide Lube – I first heard about this slide lubricant when I read that this is what Joseph Alessi uses on his slide. Naturally, I thought “This MUST be a good product then.” It has worked very well for me over the years.
12. Yamaha Slide Lubricant – You may wonder why I have two lubricants. As mentioned before, this horn is still relatively new to me, and I am still trying to find the right lube for this slide. I first heard about Yamaha Lubricant when I was on Craig Mulcahy’s website. This lubricant is a little thicker than the Ultra-Pure.
13. #2 Mechanical Pencil
14. Inner Slide Cleaning Cloth (aka., part of a white t-shirt)
15. On Stage SM7122BB Folding Music Stand wiith Carrying Bag – I found this music stand at a Goodwill once, and love it! For many reasons, it is an ideal travel stand because it comes in a carrying bag, it can easily fit in my case (so I can practice anywhere) and it only has one part to worry about. Unlike the typical wired music stand, this doesn’t have three components to put together. The stand easily folds out AND the bookplate and can be adjusted to different angles (another favorite feature). I have two much sturdier music stands for those outdoor gigs, but this stand gets the job done when I need some personal practice on the go.

There you have it! As mentioned before, some of these products are not ideal, and I do have higher quality products that I keep at home. But all of these, allow me to function well enough wherever my tenor trombone takes me.

What do you always keep in my your case?

Comment below, email or message me on social media. I would love to hear what you find works well for you!