TromboneChat

As I come to this question multiple times a year?

If you are one of these crazy people who take their instruments on vacation - and have more than one to choose from - which do you pick and why?

I am in the lucky situation that within limits I get room from my wife and kids for some practice during vacation. And on the one hand I really enjoy doing it, on the other hand I just don't like the feeling of not playing for a certain time and then to whatever degree have to get back into it.

So before almost every vacation, I reconsider which trombone(s) to take.
Some aspects that play a role:
- I don't necessarily want to take my most expensive instruments. E g right now I left my Greenhoe bass home and took my Conn
- Obviously if I might be preparing for a specific challenging project this will influence the selection. E g taking the alto when there is something coming up that I want to specifically practice for
- Space and mode of transportation of course play a role. My smallest options would be just my alto or my bass trumpet
- I have once taken the bass trumpet to be able to practice in the car at night... sounds crazy, I know

When these factors above don't limit myself, I would probably either choose my large tenor/88h as it's the most universal instrument or take bass and small bore for some variety that covers (almost) everything.

I'm lucky, every time I've had to fly with an instrument I've been on cornet or flugelhorn.

I once took my F alto to Europe on a vacation, and never even got it out.

If I'm just concerned with chop maintenance, I usually travel with an Olds compact marching trombone. Sturdy (both instrument and case) and compact.

JohnL wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2023 4:54 pm If I'm just concerned with chop maintenance, I usually travel with an Olds compact marching trombone. Sturdy (both instrument and case) and compact.

Me too. That's exactly what I travel with, although that Yamaha 350c would be a close second.

I usually take my 3B/F. Nowadays I'd probably take my 608F. I have a trip coming up this fall, and I think I may take the bass trumpet since I think it can fit in a suitcase.

I have a beater bass trumpet that I took on a work trip to Japan where we were moving around a lot. I’ve also taken my alto, a small tenor, and a very small solo alto horn on various trips. As usual, it depended on the post-trip playing repertoire.

If you just want something to warmup on occasionally to keep chops fresh, it's hard to beat the mini pBone (alto version.)

If you want something playable for a gig possibility, never know what might come up - well then you're not really on vacation, are you?

I made a Ralph Sauer F.A.R.T. and took it and a mouthpiece with me. Helps keep the lips working.

timothy42b wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 8:22 am If you just want something to warmup on occasionally to keep chops fresh, it's hard to beat the mini pBone (alto version.)

If you want something playable for a gig possibility, never know what might come up - well then you're not really on vacation, are you?

This is what I've done for Christmas or Easter vacations w/family. I bring along a practice mute, and the pBone mini actually fits in my checked bag. Good for just enough playing to stay marginally in shape - do some good practicing before you leave and when you get back, and just do a short warm-up and some scales, etc. while you're out of town. Works pretty well.

Jim Scott

It probably depends on what kind of trip it is, how long it will be and what awaits you when you get back home.

On the beach vacation that was a month or two out from an audition I took my main horn and wandered up into the mountains behind the hotel every day for a full session. The day a Cuban family came by on their horse to critique my William Tell will live with me forever.

If the trip involves a lot of hotel switches and long sightseeing days then having a horn can be a pain. I learned than the hard way when I dropped a horn down an Egyptian elevator shaft. I still have the horn, and it still plays.

If you have time before you have to play when you get back, why not just relax and enjoy some time off?

VJOFan wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 10:51 am when I dropped a horn down an Egyptian elevator shaft

seems like an opportunity that should not have presented itself

VJOFan wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 10:51 am ...

If you have time before you have to play when you get back, why not just relax and enjoy some time off?

That's what Adolf Herseth used to do. He'd put the trumpet in its case under the bed as he was preparing to leave and tell it "Stay there!".

BGuttman wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 11:14 am

VJOFan wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 10:51 am If you have time before you have to play when you get back, why not just relax and enjoy some time off?

That's what Adolf Herseth used to do. He'd put the trumpet in its case under the bed as he was preparing to leave and tell it "Stay there!".

The horn will still be there, waiting for your love, when you return from your relaxing vacation.

Not an option for everyone... if I have a playing engagement a day after I get back, I'm not going to take a week off the horn.

Burgerbob wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 11:29 am Not an option for everyone... if I have a playing engagement a day after I get back, I'm not going to take a week off the horn.

True enough - especially for you full-time professionals.

For me, I guess time off is one of the benefits of retirement. I can now fully kick back and enjoy my (sometimes) extended vacations. [I plan to take a month-long trip this fall. Hope all my ensembles can survive without me!]

Apparently a non-playing break worked for Herseth. I never heard him sound bad.

ithinknot wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 11:01 am

VJOFan wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 10:51 am when I dropped a horn down an Egyptian elevator shaft

seems like an opportunity that should not have presented itself

It was an old elevator. The door was accordion metal lattice work the user closed before pressing the go button. The walls were a metal cage like a shark cage but with wider bars- about the width of a trombone bell it turns out.

Squished to the side in a crowded car, my gig bag caught on something at about the third or fourth floor and fortunately (in terms of life and limb) slipped off my shoulder and summersaulted gracefully to the bottom of the shaft. I saw it all the way down.

Just a slight bend in the bell was the result. Getting access to the non-tourist residential portion of the building to retrieve it is a different story entirely.

British 3-valve compensated Bariton. Compact for transport, takes same mouthpiece as tenor trombone. Fine for keeping chops in tune ...

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musicofnote wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 3:12 pm I'm on vacation now. No instrument with me, no mouthpiece. Nada. It's called VACATION.

And, amazingly enough, the pleasure of making music will still be there when you return.
Perhaps even more after missing it for 5 weeks.

As someone who doesn’t do this for a living, a nice relaxing vacation to me is being able to play every day for a few hours!

BGuttman wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 11:14 am That's what Adolf Herseth used to do. He'd put the trumpet in its case under the bed as he was preparing to leave and tell it "Stay there!".

The story goes, as related by Bud himself, that 4-5 days before the end of his vacation, he would start buzzing the mouthpiece a bit at random times during the day. Most of buzzing seemed to happen on the golf course, just as someone else in his party was hitting off the tee.

One of the perks of having an orchestra job is that you know exactly when you are returning to work and what you're playing. Most people won't take too much time off before Zarathustra or Bolero, but a week of playing a few notes on a pBone w/a practice mute isn't a big problem before a New Year's Day gig with waltzes and polkas. I'm sure Herseth enjoyed his holiday time off, but he would get back on his horn a few days before Mahler 5th.

Jim Scott

CalgaryTbone wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 10:50 pm I'm sure Herseth enjoyed his holiday time off, but he would get back on his horn a few days before Mahler 5th.

The best concert I've ever heard:
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Mahler 5th (led off by Bud Herseth) - Boston Symphony Hall, ~1971 or 1972.
The CSO brought their A-game that night!
At the conclusion of the symphony, the audience sat in stunned and absolute silence for nearly a minute - before exploding into riotous applause.

Matt K wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 5:57 pm As someone who doesn’t do this for a living, a nice relaxing vacation to me is being able to play every day for a few hours!

Same here. I have a trip later in the year I'm looking forward to that I'll definitely take a trombone on. We drive there, so I won't be limited on horn size. I wake up earlier than most of my friends, so I plan to step outside in the mornings and have some good practice time. I'll look forward to being able to practice if I take any time off but don't travel too. ITF will even be a vacation of sorts for me. I'm sure it will be busy, but I won't have to work and I'll see a bunch of cool trombone stuff on a trip so I count it.

p-bone and silent brass - the only way the plastic thing sounds good.

I take my mouthpiece and my spirometer. The horn stays home.

Mouthpiece and a piece of garden hose (about 10" long). Horn stays home.

36H. It travels well, you can put a practice mute in, and I've got a mouthpiece that gives it the same blow as a 3B.

JohnL wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2023 4:54 pm If I'm just concerned with chop maintenance, I usually travel with an Olds compact marching trombone. Sturdy (both instrument and case) and compact.

Yep same here. It's a perfect space saver.

Been thinking about taking my alto.

Doug Yeo took a Yamaha 350C on vacation. The case fit perfectly on the luggage rack in the cabin of the aircraft.

If I'm on vacation? I don't take it.
I've gone to auditions overseas with two horns.
Both Edwards tenor and bass in MB cases. I out the bass on my back tenor on my front , backpack on left side and small suitcase on the right hand.

Going on a 3 day trip by train on Sunday. I hope I will have some time these days, but still not sure if I am taking just the mouthpieces, alto or large tenor... Also dependents if my son is coming along or not.

I can relate to your dilemma on whether to bring your instrument(s) on vacation. I'm actually headed to South Korea next month but have decided not to bring any of my instruments since I really want to fully immerse myself in the local culture and cuisine. I've been connecting with some locals from https://gowithguide.com/korea to help plan my itinerary and it seems there may be a traditional music festival one weekend that I'd love to check out just to experience something unique.

I picked up a cheapo pocket trumpet and I have one of the Greg Black /Nova soprano mouthpieces. I can fit my silent brass in it and the whole thing fits in a backpack! Last time I flew we didn’t take a carryon or checked bag to save money so I fit it and a few changes of clothes in my back pack. Worked fine!

I don't think the missus would take too kindly me taking any instrument on our honeymoon!

elainechat wrote: ↑Thu Jun 20, 2024 4:09 am I can relate to your dilemma on whether to bring your instrument(s) on vacation. I'm actually headed to South Korea next month but have decided not to bring any of my instruments since I really want to fully immerse myself in the local culture and cuisine. I've been connecting with some locals from https://gowithguide.com/korea to help plan my itinerary and it seems there may be a traditional music festival one weekend that I'd love to check out just to experience something unique.

Good move. I wouldn't bring a trombone on a trip like that either -- you're not going to want to schlep a trombone all around Seoul. You're also probably not going to be playing trombone after going out to eat at the samgyeopsal joint (every night? Most nights, probably. Maybe one night will be Chimaek!), especially if they give you the grapefruit soju.

If I have a gig coming up, I’ll take my pBone. Last year, I had an audition two weeks after I visited my mother. I borrowed one of those large solid golf cases, put my tenor into it’s MB compact case, filed everything with foam. No problems. The airline didn’t even charge extra!

These days I fly with my Y-Fort and bring a Pampet practice mute. Hard to beat.

If it happens I go abroad on vacation I do not bring my horn. I once brought my mouthpiece. Never played it. Did some buzzing, probably more a psychological thing. When I'm on vacation in Sweden, usually for no more than a week, I go by car and bring only one horn, my main tenor
and I play aprox 20 minutes a day. I think it's better than not to play at all. 20 minutes is minimum time spent on practice.

/Tom

Vacation is vacation. I don't bring a trombone, any more than I brought my business work with me on vacation before I retired.

Only exception - when I travel to New England to visit with family for a few weeks, I have stored in my son's basement a nice Olds Ambassador - to play just for fun, to accompany my grandchildren, or to get together for a "jam session" with old brass-playing friends in the area.

I'm still seeking balance in my life!

MStarke wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 5:01 am Going on a 3 day trip by train on Sunday. I hope I will have some time these days, but still not sure if I am taking just the mouthpieces, alto or large tenor... Also dependents if my son is coming along or not.

A 3 day trip?!? Why even bother thinking about practicing on such a short trip?

In a perfect world I would love to travel on vacations with a horn, and one day that might work for me. But at the moment I have two little kids (5 & 2 currently) and we pack so much stuff for the 2 of them that a horn doesn't fit anywhere in the car.

My dream is to have a screw bell 3b or one of those overhauled screw bell Olds Flugabones from Sweeney Brass. Similar to what Scott made for Dion Tucker

JLivi wrote: ↑Thu Jun 20, 2024 3:10 pm

MStarke wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 5:01 am Going on a 3 day trip by train on Sunday. I hope I will have some time these days, but still not sure if I am taking just the mouthpieces, alto or large tenor... Also dependents if my son is coming along or not.

A 3 day trip?!? Why even bother thinking about practicing on such a short trip?

On the one hand I actually LIKE practicing trombone. And on the other hand it's often knowing that a few days later I have a rehearsal or performance coming up that I want to be prepared for. Also on such trips I sometimes have actually better chances to practice than when staying at home...

I totally get the dilemma of choosing which instrument to take on vacation. I usually opt for my large tenor because it strikes a good balance between versatility and generosity. It handles most situations well and gives me the flexibility I need. If I'm preparing for something specific, like an upcoming performance, I'll take the instrument I need to practice, even if it's a bit bulkier. My small bore trombone is my go-to for more casual trips where space is tight because it's easy to transport and still lets me keep my chops up.
I've been to the a Resort in Branson, Missouri before, and it's a great place to relax while still having the room to practice if you want. It's a nice mix of family-friendly activities and space to yourself. Here's the link to check it out: https://www.westgateresorts.com/hotels/ ... ds-resort/

I have wrestled with this for a bit. Except for covid years, we go to Spain every summer for 3-4 weeks, sometimes longer, to visit my wife’s family. I used to bring a small tenor and practice mute with me. Then kids happened and I would often take a pbone or pbone mini and just toss it in a suitcase padded with clothes. I think I had to take the tuning slide out of the pbone to make stuff fit, but it worked. I would get a bit of time on the horn, but not tons. The last couple of years, I have just been bringing a mouthpiece and a Warburton PETE with me. With using the PETE remotely regularly and some occasional mouthpiece buzzing, I have been coming back feeling pretty good with very little reacclimatization period on the actual horn when I come back. Takes up tons less space and does not require tons of time for maintenance. YMMV.

I feel like if you're an amateur, there is little need to bring a horn to keep your chops up on vacation. Take a vacation.

If you're a pro and you need to practice every day, even on vacation, in order to remember how to play efficiently and "keep your muscles in shape", you need to be more objective about your practice and your mechanics and figure out how to do it right. Obviously you practice every day to pursue specific playing goals, but pros, especially, should just take a vacation when they have time off. Getting back into it in less than two days is a valuable skill to have. If you're so busy that you have solo performances or high stakes concerts coming up within days of the end of your vacation, something is amiss (or maybe very right on) with your schedule.

harrisonreed wrote: ↑Wed Jul 24, 2024 10:00 am I feel like if you're an amateur, there is little need to bring a horn to keep your chops up on vacation. Take a vacation.

While amateurs usually don't have to worry about losing gigs as a result of a poor performance due to "vacation chops", we still want to stay in reasonable "playing shape". Case in point: my wife just got back yesterday morning from a week-long trip to visit family. We had a concert yesterday evening and she had to step up to the principal chair because the principal horn came up sick at the last minute. Fortunately, she DID take her horn with her on the trip and was ready to go.