Hey guys, I just finished my sophomore year of high school and have been playing trombone for 2 years tomorrow! I love my instrument and plan to take it with me until my time on this earth is over.

All that I want to do is improve, so I recorded myself playing the piece "Achieved is the Glorious Work" by Haydn, arranged for trombone quartet, and mixed all of the parts together.

I only did this in about an hour, so this is my best for one hour. Please, feel free to give me pointers. I already realized that I capped notes that should not have been capped, and could have played some parts more legato. I also think I used too much vibrato in some parts.

My main goal is to play as a soloist or part of a symphony when I am older, but my short term goal is to be accepted into the California All State band next year.

The recording is on my myspace, http://www.myspace.com/chrisbonebass

I play on a Bach Stradivarius 42T with a Schilke 52 mouthpiece.

Hi,
I'm a bit torn with how to approach this. Lemme explain. In the Navy, we do a lot of gigs in "less than desirable" conditions. And I'm always tired of hearing the phrase "We did ok, all things considered." or whatever excuse may be spewed forth. I believe we should always try and sound great all the time no matter what. So... do I give my criticism based on what you've accomplished in two short years on the trombone? Or do I just focus on the music and what needs to improve?
First off... I do four tracking from time to time and I know just how hard it is. And an hour is not a lot of time to do it. (I recorded Scarborough Fair in about 45 minutes, and unfortunately it sounds like it).
Second.. you play a lot better than a lot of high school players I have heard in the last few years. I admire your dedication and hard work.
Ok.. the stuff that needs work, in no particular order
Phrasing... is just sounded choppy. You need to work on finishing your notes so that they don't sound so abrupt. Some notes were so short they soudned like "dit dit dit dit ..." I'm sure you wouldn't sing it that way.. so why play it that way? Remember, this is a choir piece arranged for trombone. Play it like you'd sing it!
Intonation... in most spots it was surprisingly good for your time playing. But there were a few spots that were real squirrely. But somehow I suspect you know that already.
Blend... the first spot was too overpowering of the other parts a lot of the time.
Tone... This should improve with time, but it sure sounds like you need to work on relaxation and breathing. It just sounds really constricted to me, especially in the upper register.
All that being said, I commend your progress so far, as well as your courage for putting yourself up on the chopping block. Keep up the good work.

Thank you very much! I am taking lessons with my band director this summer and will tell him all of the stuff you told me so that we can work on it. I think I will buy a Rochut book so that I can work on playing more lyrically.