In an orchestral setting, where you're reading alto clef, it's helpful to know that you can just pretend that you're reading bass clef and play the notes in the positions/partials you're used to, except they'll be different notes. For example, if you see a note written in alto clef that is on the middle ledger line, that is middle C. On alto trombone, you'd play that in 4th position. That same note would read as a D in bass clef, so you'd play that in 4th position on tenor trombone. You'll have to have to get used to the embouchure and airspeed difference (as you mentioned) since the notes in the positions you're used to are different.
When you talk about "transposing French horn music", actually that is where it comes in handy to think of the instrument as if it's a smaller Bb tenor. Because we learn the Bb tenor in concert pitch (C), an Eb alto trombone player can easily read music in F as if they are playing a transposing instrument (as long as they are already familiar with the treble clef). Great video, I appreciate the pointers! Also, nice pedal Eb - I find that note to be almost impossible to play in tune and with good tone.
We have a Conn 36H with a Bb valve in the shop at the moment but no trill valve options. The next time we get one in we will grab a video with it for sure!
Do you need to use a different mouthpiece for an alto? I have basically similar size mouthpieces with different shanks that i use for with my tenor trombone.
It depends on what works for you; there are certainly plenty of players who use significantly smaller (in terms of cup width) pieces on alto vs tenor. However, it seems that for a lot of folks a mouthpiece with a width more similar to their tenor gear, just with a shallower cup and tighter throat/backbone provides more tone and control; many of the artist-model alto pieces available seem to reflect this...
Hey, currently I am playing Drei Equali on first trombone. I have access to a cheap alto. The question is, should I play the alto since it was originally written for it, or should I stick to my main large bore trombone?
Good question! I think it would depend on the gear and approach of the other players. I often find alto works best in a trio/quartet/section with the other players playing smaller gear to match (ie 2nd on small-bore tenor, 3rd on large bore) or in a section where the approach is lighter overall; a good alto sound has a light singing quality (especially in classical-romantic settings) that can be overpowered and mismatched with a more powerful section. Also, the intonation on the first part can be slightly tricky as it is; the alto can complicate this and so I would use it only if I were confident in its intonation. Otherwise the 1st part lays very nicely on tenor as well... :)
The same positions that you do for a Bb major scale starting from Bb on 1st, then C in 6th goes the same with the alto but instead starts in Eb in 1st, F in 6th, etc
I have been using a Bach 7C myself! I have been thinking about playing around with a slightly shallower piece but I feel like the 7C (24.75mm) rim is as small as I am comfortable with and it seems to match my alto needs fairly well!
Absolutely! It depends on your approach but the nice thing about learning alto as it’s own instrument (relearning the partials and positions of each note) vs. as a transposing instrument is that once you get comfortable where everything sits you can read any clef that you would be able to on tenor (or bass...)
