Every two years I organize a trombone ensemble project with some friends. It's a mix of amateurs and >=1 semi-pros (including myself). For me this is always a highlight and a really fun project that's challenging on the one hand, but also allows some experimentation and fun. Also as I contribute to the programming and allocating the parts to the players, I can kind of pick what to play myself.

This year in October (first rehearsal in June) we are again having a great program. And I have - for whatever reason - decided to:

1) Play contra in a nice arrangement from Rhinegold which includes some original parts. <YOUTUBE id="GPG46gZed9g"><LINK_TEXT text="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPG46gZ ... NrZW5iZXJn">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPG46gZed9g&pp=ygUSZ2VyZCBzY2huYWNrZW5iZXJn</LINK_TEXT></YOUTUBE> Not super challenging by itself, but also not easy to play it well. I might also play contra on one or two other things.

2) Play lead (small) tenor on this wonderful arrangement of Here's that rainy day <YOUTUBE id="LbwQK0ay4JI"><LINK_TEXT text="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbwQK0a ... FpbnkgZGF5">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbwQK0ay4JI&pp=ygUbdHdvIGJvbmUgYmlnIGJhbmQgcmFpbnkgZGF5</LINK_TEXT></YOUTUBE> It goes up to high Bb. The one an octave higher than what you might first think. It's not much more than an effect, but still I want it to be there

3) Play probably some other challenging high tenor parts (including one of the wonderful Bohannon/Kaplan arrangements)

4) Play some more bass or tenor

In the time until October I also have some other projects planned and always have to balance my practicing with my day job, family etc.

How would you prepare for this? Any hints how you would organize your practice, what you would do specifically?

My current plan can be summarized as:

- Try to play all relevant instruments on as many days per week as possible

- Be really focused with my limited practice time

- This includes lots of basics such as long tones, scales and expanding intervals

- Obviously spend much time in the upper register and cover the required register (plus some more if possible) every days

- Take a few lessons to address some specific topics

- Practice the full program in the given order a few times before the actual concert (and rehearsals with the full group)

If you can already play both horns, and you know you can play the repertoire you've chosen on the instruments you've chosen, then what are you really worried about? Just program things so you are not moving back and forth every piece.

Send an email to Jim Nova - he does so much using all of the trombone family (Soprano down to Contra). I bet has some good tips!

Jim Scott

[quote="CalgaryTbone"]Send an email to Jim Nova - he does so much using all of the trombone family (Soprano down to Contra). I bet has some good tips!

Jim Scott[/quote]

:-D Actually a good idea! It would be interesting how he prepares for this kind of things.

[quote="VJOFan"]If you can already play both horns, and you know you can play the repertoire you've chosen on the instruments you've chosen, then what are you really worried about? Just program things so you are not moving back and forth every piece.[/quote]

I am not really worried, because it doesn't really matter if something doesn't come out perfectly. I am just doing this for myself and to have a challenging goal to prepare for.

Right now I can play the parts, but there is definitely a way to go to play all of it confidently in a concert situation.

Good advice, I will definitely try to influence the order so that it's as little back and forth as possible.

Also I am trying to figure out the very quickest way to "acclimate" to one of the instrument.