I have just finished my second year playing trombone, and I`m not sure about my range. My tone and everything else are fine, but I`m not sure if I should be playing higher after this long. I can comfortably reach a high Bb (4 legar lines above the staff,)(good tone as well,) and I can get the double high F above that, but it`s not the same tone. How am I doing?

Hey, you`re doing fine. Unless you`re one of those trombone freaks who practice for 3 hours every day, I`d say you`re pretty good. I`m in my fourth year and I can hardly hit a triple octave G. I really should practice more...

well for a 2 yr player that is good but how often can you hit them after playing for 20 minits? an hour? Inconsistancy is the tell tail sign to you need more practice.

ok that last thaught was not complete. I guess what im saying is that I can hit a lot of notes that are way higher than what your talking about. But i am not consistant with them. If you are able to play acending scales starting on Bflat(the one that is at the bottom of the staff) 8th notes at 110 bpm 2 octives and cant hit the G 9 out of 10 times you dont really have the g same with the a and bflat. If you really own it then youll have good tone too.

A mellophone player told me that the key to good tone is opening your jaw when you play it will open your sound and make your tone fuller and force you to use good habbits(suport not preshure) the other thing you can doo is to try to open your throat. Inhale with the thaught POH and youllopen up improving your tone in all ranges.

Ok so if you really own all that range after 2 years, your doing great(who is your teacher i want to work with them)

remember though range isnt everything. you want to be sure your still playing in the middle of the trombone with perfect pitch and accuracy. When i was a sophomore in high school i was screaming 2 Bb s about the staff but never really played that accurately in tune. 6 years later i still have that range but now i have a more focused sound in the middle of the trombone. Also work on the bottom end of the horn, the breathing you do down there will only help those high notes come screaming out. Good luck and keep up the good work.