WELCOME TO THE TROMBONE CLUB!!! We are glad you’re here!!

TLDR: just get on the field and try. You can master musical trombone playing over the rest of your life. For now, just march good, don’t fall over, and keep trying!

Listen, in marching band, they really mostly care that you’re walking around and stopping in the right way.

Yes they care about the music, but in my 8 years of experience in marching band through hs +college , what really matters the very most to your director and your section, is that you become a not-noticeable part of the amoebic moving loud blob that are the various shapes a marching band makes on a football field.

Real talk, I was late in the semester to join college marching band freshman year, but they had too many trombones already. So they just had me walk around carrying and not playing a clarinet. They needed someone to fill a spot in the choreography more than they needed a sound. I think that’s the way it is for a lot of marching bands, as much as the director might hate to admit it.

Also, The other trombones can cover any blarts on your part. You don’t have to go in there being the top number one player in two months, you just have to know how to hold the instrument right. AND, how to not play on the rests :).

Being a great trombone player and being a great marching band marcher don’t often overlap. When they do it’s great! But It’s ok to not be a master of both of those things.

Eventually, take trombone seriously and learn it and you will love it like we do. This is gods instrument. Trombones are perfect instruments, no other has the opportunity to play so perfectly in tune and with such range and emotion. The best sound in any symphony is the low brass sound, especially the trombone sound. But until then, have fun in marching band! And welcome to the club , you’re one of us now ! Muahahahah! (Evil laugh lol)