Hello.

Now we are going to meet a trombonist on our symphonic safari adventure.

Let's go.

Hello.

Hey, my name is Violetta Vibrato but you can call me by my Vi your name is Dunwoody.

Yes, I'm Dunwoody.

I play the trombone, I'm a trombonist.

Dunwoody, I love that name.

Thank you and I love love the trombone.

Thank you.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I am from Miami, Florida.

After leaving Miami, I went to Florida A&M University where I received my music education degree and had a chance to go on tour for about a year or so.

And then I went back to Florida State to receive my master's and doctorate.

I was also a band director for a couple of years as well.

Like I said, I think the trombone is one of the coolest instruments ever.

It's truly remarkable, indeed.

I want to know about the sound and movements.

But right now I want to know why is it that you decided to play the trombone?

Well, it's a cool story because the trombone chose me back when I was in middle school, my band director, he showcased all of the instruments and he had flute , clarinet, saxophone and all the instruments.

And when he came to the trombone, I looked at it and I said, ew.

You know, this is a very unique instrument, one because of the fact that there's no way of knowing where the slab positions are located.

There's nothing on the slide that says this is this position or this position is really based on the ear.

So he had all the students to essentially take out a sheet of paper and write down their top three choices.

So because of the fact that the instruments I've seen as a kid, I chose flute, clarinet and saxophone.

The very next day, when he called roll, he called my name and he said trombone.

Instantly, I forgot the instrument because already throughout in my mind saying that I'm not playing that instrument, he want me to play the instrument because he needed more trombonist.

So more students playing the instrument.

And I thank them ever since.

Every time I see them, I thank him because of the fact that he chose the trombone for me.

That is a wonderful story.

And you were only eleven years.

I was eleven years old.

Do you have a piece that you played when you were eleven, one of your first pieces that you ever played on the trombone?

Yes, this is selection minuet in G by J.S.

Bach.

That was beautiful.

What would you say to an eleven year old who wants to play the trombone?

The trombone is a very cool instrument because of the fact that we are the trombone is exposed in many ensembles.

You have jazz band, you have marching band, you have orchestra and you can play it.

It's a very fun instrument and we can make different sounds and and it's it.

It calls for the fact of you using a lot of air, but once you get to get control of it, it's very unique and it's very fun and versatile too.

It sounds like, see, that is notable.

So I don't know if a lot of people know this, but most brass instruments rely on valves to create the pitches.

But the trombone relies on the slide that you talked about.

Can you show me the different parts of the trombone and how it works and how you make the sounds?

Yes.

So the trombone has many parts, but it's really composed of two main parts is composed of the bell where the sound comes out of.

Yes.

And we also have the slide.

As mentioned earlier, there's nothing to help us give us an idea of where the slide positions are located, hence the reason why the trombonist have to have a really good ear.

So just like other brass instruments, there's a water key where there's condensation that comes out as we blow hot air into brass instruments.

The horn sweats, so that's why you have this water key that come that has the water to come out of.

And then for this here, for this trombone is called an f attachment.

Most trombones wood does not have this here, but most professional horns would have this little valve system here, which gives an opportunity to use as an alternate slide position and it also gives this opportunity to make the horn go lower and pitch.

Can you tell me how your mouth works on it?

Yes, so I had to buzz, but this being a brass instrument, I have to buzz on the mouthpiece.

So just as a rubber band, if you have your finger, index, finger and thumb, you stretch it.

It's the same thing with the corners of my lips, so I have to stretch it just a bit.

That creates a buzz, and this horn here just amplifies what I'm doing on the mouthpiece.

Is there a name for that?

Yes.

This is the embouchure So it's the mouth is a muscle and we have to create this this embouchure to essentially help buzz the instrument.

That is a most notable word.

I'm writing it down.

You talked about the pictures of it.

Can you tell me what the range of the trombone is and play the highest and the lowest notes for me?

Yes, the trombone has a pretty wide range and I'll just go ahead and play a couple of notes for you.

That was pretty awesome, thank you.

I want to ask you because I know the trombone is part of the brass family, is it only because it's brass?

Yes, because of the fact that it's made of a brass instrument and that we have to use our lips to buzz creating our embouchure The special word.

So for us to buzz and hence the reason why this is a part of the brass family.

Do you get to travel a lot as a as the trombonist?

And have you traveled to very many places?

Yes, the trombone has taken me near and far.

I've been to Paris, France, I've been to Tokyo, Japan and because of the trombone, all of the expenses, everything has been paid for.

So the trombone has taken me around the world.

A musician's life is a very exciting life and I've learned so much about musicians.

Do you have a favorite piece that you like to play and if so, would you play it for me?

Yes, there's a selection called is a selection that's essentially written for trumpet and it is called Carnival of Venice.

Here we go I loved that I notice when you're doing it, you use your arm a lot, does it take a lot of strength to do that?

No, no, no, not at all.

The how to move the slide, it requires just the arm and the wrist.

And by just by moving our wrist, mainly in the first couple of positions.

And then once we go out here, we can enable the the arm.

But that's all we need to use, just our wrist and our arm.

How many trombones are there in an orchestra?

There are typically three trombonist in an orchestra.

And what role do they play in the orchestra?

Oh, we have a very big responsibility where we serve as the backbone of the orchestra.

We provide the very big and robust sounds.

And we also can create a very tranquil song like choir like sound as well, too.

That sounds like a very important role.

Do you have a favorite orchestral piece that you like to play?

Yes, I have Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, would you play that for me?

Sure.

That was smashing it is such a powerful instrument, it really is.

So I've been asking a lot of my musician friends what animal that instrument sounds most like.

Do you have an animal or any other sounds that you think that your instrument sounds like?

Well, we can sound like a lion.

We can sound like an elephant.

But I can make a very unique sound to where the trombone actually sounds like a motorcycle.

Really?

Can you do that for me?

Sure Sure.

That was amazeballs, thank you.

Thank you.

So I want to know just a little bit more about you.

I've been asking a lot of my musician friends something called rapid fire questions that has very little to do with music.

But just so I get to know you a little bit more.

Can I ask you some of those questions?

Sure.

Sure.

OK. Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate.

Me too DC or Marvel?

Marvel, right, Marvel, Apple or Android?

Apple.

Yes.

Salt or pepper?

Salt.

Horror films or adventure?

Adventure.

Yes.

Yes, it has been marvelous getting to know you.

Thank you so much for the time with you, Dunwoody.

Thank you.

It's been a pleasure and thank you for joining me on my symphonic safari adventure.

Till next time.

Bye bye.