Picking up Trombone again after 25 years. Need advice!

Question

I’ve joined our community band, but struggling to get my lips back in shape. I’m doing long tones and other warm-ups. However, my attacks and tonging are particularly dreadful. Any advice besides opening page 1 of Arban’s? :-)

Answer 1

Here is the advice I give to my students:

1. Find an artist whom you would like to sound like. Listen to their articulation on 1. legato (smooth), 2. tenuto (slightly connected), and staccato (detached) playing.
2. Mimic their sound by experimenting with tongue syllables (commonly DOE for legato, TOE for tenuto, and TOP for staccato.
3. Hear the sound you want to produce in your mind's ear and then repeatedly try to produce this sound on the instrument.
4. This takes full-breath support and years of repetition to achieve. Another word for "practice" is "repetition".