I've really been thinking about switching instuments. I want to start playing French Horn, because my school band really needs one, but I love playing the trombone. Now, I'm not all that good at the trombone, but I think I'd be better off with buttons rather than slides. I need some help! What should I do?

Wow, that's a tough one. I have seen many students switch instruments for the sake of the band at the request of the director, but honestly, it pains me to hear it. I doubt french horn will be any easier, as a matter of fact, it will probably be harder. Don't think for a second that valves will make it any easier. You'll just be expected to play faster passages anyway. If you were wanting to change because you were in love with the sound, or its role in the band and/or orchestra, then I'd say go for it. But if trombone is your true love, stick with it. You'll always work harder if you truly love what you're doing. If you're doing it for someone else, your flame will most likely burn out.
But if you switch, don't worry... the trombone will still be there for you if and when you come back.

In high school, I played played trumpet my freshman year. When I was a sophomore, my director asked me to switch to the trombone, because we already had seven trumpets and there was only one trombonist. It was the best decision that I ever made. I developed a passion for the trombone very quickly, something that I never had while playing trumpet. So switching can be sometimes be a good thing.

How old are you and how long have you been playing? Do you really love trombone, or do you love playing something?

I think younger students should expirement with different instruments, just to find out what they really want to do. You should give it a shot. If you like it, then there ya go! If not, you can always go back to bone.

Sometimes you have to expirement to find what is truly for you.

I'm 15 so I think I'm going to give it a shot and try the French horn. I'm still a little afraid though. I'm jsut afraid that I'm not going to sound good. I've been playing the trombone for 5 years (since I was in 5th grade) and I owill only have a short time, maybe less than one semester to learn the French horn. But my teacher still wants me to try it.

Good for you! I say go for it, there's no better way to find what you really want to do in life than to try different things.

I would imagine there would be a strange transition, as French Horn is an awkward instrument. (I never could get it when I tried) You should ask a French Horn teacher (or maybe even a F.H. group in here?) what to look forward to and what to watch out for.

Good luck!

What makes the French horn difficult is that the partials are so close together. So it makes it difficult to hit the right note every time, as you might hit just too high or just too low. Also, you'll have to get used to the smaller mouthpiece.

Don't be afraid about sounding bad on the French horn at first. Here's something you should know: You won't sound good. Nobody sounds good on a new instrument, until they've grown more comfortable with it after at least a couple of months.

The only "new" instrument I've ever sounded good on was the euphonium. But that's because the mouthpiece size and general range is basically the same as the trombone, so there wasn't too much adjusting that I had to do in terms of playing concepts.

Just practice hard, and you should be good at any instrument you attempt to play. It will take time though. Good luck with your French horn success.

Thanks a lot for your support guys. I really appriciate it.

I play Trumpet, but I switched from Trombone and Tuba. If you do decide to switch, and you don't like it, don't be afraid to let your director know. I am a sophomore in high school and my freshman year, the band I was in didn't have a Tuba, so, for the benefit of the band, and having played Tuba before, I decided to play Tuba in band while practicing and taking lessons on Trumpet. After about 1 month, I decided I wanted to switch back, and here's why: I simply love the Trumpet. I enjoy playing Trombone as well as Tuba, and to be completely honest, I was a total natural at them, especially Trombone. But Trumpet is my instrument, it is my passion. I absolutely love the sound and the way it leads the band. So, for a couple weeks, I put off telling my director that I wanted to switch back because I was afraid that he would be angry with. Finally, I walked into his office after class one day and said, "I want to play Trumpet", and he said, "ok", end of story, haven't looked back since.

It all depends on what your passion is, not what your the best at, and not what is the easiest, (and I certainly don't think the French Horn is easier by any means). Like someone else said, if you want to switch because you love the sound and the role it plays, then you should give a try. You can always switch back to Trombone if it's not for you. But if you are switching because your band director wants you to, even though your passion is Trombone, then forget it. Play what you want to play. My band director this year told me, "you should really consider switching to baritone, you have a perfect set up for it, you would sound gorgeous." I immediately replied "No", because I want to play Trumpet, and that is just the way it is.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck and have fun!

Hey guys
In my band, there's quite a well balance of instruments and players. And there are people changing instruments quite frequently, particularly the woodwind players. For brass players, usually people stick with the instrument they play and do not change, because different brass instruments have VERY different way of playing techniques which are really hard to handle.
This is especially important for trombone players because we are the only bunch of people who use slides instead of valves. I personally cannot handle valves becasue I cannot really control my fingers' movements very well.
If you are switch to horns... It'll be very hard if you have already spent quite a bit of time in playing trombone. The fingerings and difference in mouthpiece will take a while to get use to.
Back to the core of the problem: Trombone is differnet from other brass instruments... So make you choice CAREFULLY!