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How To Set Up A Trombone: Assembly Steps Made Simple!Putting a trombone together looks like a tough task for those who’ve never done it before, but after a couple of times doing it, it’s quite easy.

In this post, I’ll go the steps I and many other music teachers have used for years to teach people how to set up a trombone.

Let’s dive in!

Steps For How To Set Up A Trombone

#1 Put The Case On Stable Ground Or Surface

Take your case and lay it flat on the ground or a table that doesn’t move. You’d feel terrible if you opened the case to let the trombone drop on the ground!

Often, the label faces up when opening the case.

#2 Open The Case And Remove The Slide

The latches are different by make, so you’ll have to figure out how to undo the latches on your own (I believe in you!).

Open the case up all the way and take a look at the parts. Again, each case is different, so the different parts may be stored in different ways.

We’re looking for the slide of the trombone now. It’s a long U-shape with a bar going across the middle on one end.

The bell may also have a U-shape to it, but the bell is the end with the large opening that flares out. We don’t need this yet.

Remove the slide once you locate it. Double-check the slide lock is holding the inner slide and outer slide together. Often, this is a little turning part near the slide brace (the middle part).

Hold the slide perpendicular with the ground, so the two opening are facing up and the U part is facing the ground.

#3 Attach The Bell To The Slide

Remove the bell and line up the opening on the slide that has the threads to attach the bell. Align and attach the smaller end of the bell part to it.

As you tighten the parts to each other, adjust the angle of the slide and bell. They need to be 90 degrees with each other with the slide going off to the right when the large bell end is up.

Ensure the bell-slide connection is finger-tight and not wiggly as you move it around.

#4 Insert The Mouthpiece

Take your mouthpiece and insert the smaller end into the remaining slide opening.

Give it a slight twist when you put it in to ensure a solid connection through friction.

If the mouthpiece is too big to fit or it’s too small and keeps spinning, you have the wrong bore mouthpiece.

Check out our complete guide to the best trombone mouthpieces for more info to help you pick the right one.

At this point, you’re technically done, but I’d like to offer one more bonus step that most guides skip completely.

#5 Lubricate The Slide (Optional)

Your slide is how you change notes, so keeping it working smoothly is critical! Before you even play, I encourage you to lubricate it a little bit.

Taking care to hold your slide braces, undo the slide lock to release the inner slide. Let it move out, but keep a hand on it so it doesn’t fall all the way out.

Take a spray bottle with water and give the length of the slide a quick spritz.

Now, move the slide in and out to distribute the moisture.

If you notice it still doesn’t move well, you may need to do a deeper clean.

For a full guide, check out our post on how to clean a trombone slide.

How To Dissemble Or Take Apart A Trombone

Taking a trombone apart is the same as putting it together, just in reverse order.

Make sure the slide lock is on!

Remove the mouthpiece, then take the bell off and put it away.

Finally, put the slide in the right place. Close the case and latch it, and you’re on your way!

Commonly Asked Questions Related To Trombone Assembly

How Do You Hold A Trombone?

The trombone is held in a balanced position between the left and right hands. The left hand grips the brace located near the bell, fingers wrapped around the slide cross bar for support.

Thumb rests on the brace behind the mouthpiece.

Meanwhile, the right hand, pinching the movable brace with two/three fingers and a thumb, moves the slide in a smooth horizontal motion.

It’s important to maintain a relaxed posture to avoid strain and facilitate optimal playing performance.

Is Trombone Easy For Beginners?

Learning to play the trombone can be a challenge for beginners, as it requires mastering several skills simultaneously, including breath control, lip tension, slide positions, and reading music.

Unlike other instruments with defined notes like piano or guitar, trombone relies heavily on the player’s ear for pitch accuracy.

However, with proper instruction and regular practice, many beginners find the journey rewarding and achievable.

The learning curve varies from person to person, but patience and persistence always pave the way for improvement.

How Often Should You Oil A Trombone?

The frequency of oiling a trombone largely depends on usage and the player’s personal comfort. However, as a general guideline, it’s recommended to oil the trombone slide once a week.

Regular lubrication ensures smooth movement and extends the instrument’s longevity. If the trombone is played heavily or feels sluggish, oiling may need to occur more often.

Always remember to wipe off any excess oil to avoid buildup.

Do Trombones Need To Be Tuned?

Trombones need to be tuned, but they do tune on the fly as well.

Because they change pitch with their slide anyway, small adjustments are easy to make.

However, trombones need their fundamentals tuned to make everyone’s lives easier and limit the adjustments needed as they play.

For a full guide, check out our post on how to tune a trombone.

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Keeril Makan named associate dean of MIT’s School of Humanities, Arts, and Social SciencesMIT Professor Keeril Makan has been named associate dean of the MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS), effective July 1. 

Agustín Rayo, the Kenan Sahin Dean of SHASS, says Makan will serve concurrently as associate dean and in his current role as head of the MIT Music and Theater Arts (MTA) Section.

“Throughout my time as dean, I’ve been consistently impressed by Keeril’s leadership and insight as head of MTA. I look forward to working with him at the school level and relying on his advice,” Rayo says.

Makan says he’s looking forward to bringing his collaborative leadership approach to this new role.

“One of the things that excites me about being head of MTA is working on larger projects that advance the mission of the unit, the mission of the Institute, and have a large impact on the community. This involves getting a lot of people together from different parts of MIT, working towards a common goal, skills that I’ve developed through my work as a composer. I look forward to working in this way at the SHASS-wide level, as well as finding common ground between SHASS and the STEM fields,” says Makan.

Makan joined the MIT faculty in 2006, and was named head of MTA in 2018. In addition to being section head, Makan is currently the Michael (1949) and Sonja Koerner Music Composition Professor.

Among the projects Makan has helped lead as section head has been the construction of MIT’s new music building, which is set to open in fall 2024. He’s also worked to develop MTA’s music technology offerings, including the upcoming launch of a new master’s program, joint with the School of Engineering. 

Makan says one of his biggest challenges was leading MTA through the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Performance was particularly challenging in music and theater. But we worked collaboratively to create an educational experience for the students that was artistically meaningful. The experience of Covid taught the world the power of being in a room together, sharing an experience” he says.

Rayo says Makan will lead special projects, and that they’ll work together over the summer to set an agenda for the new role.

After training as a violinist, Makan received degrees in composition and religion from Oberlin College and Conservatory and completed his PhD in composition at the University of California at Berkeley, with additional studies in Helsinki and Paris. He is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Luciano Berio Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome, among other accolades. His music has been recorded by the Kronos Quartet, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and the International Contemporary Ensemble, and performed at the Los Angeles Opera, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and Tanglewood.