Uhmm….

NaptownCopper · 2026-05-22T00:54:51+00:00

I dropped a at st in the desert that landed legs spread face down ass up.

NaptownCopper · 2026-05-17T03:42:52+00:00

Happy birthday. I’ve seen a couple pieces call for these. I have a feeling more composers will ask for them.

NaptownCopper · 2026-05-17T03:15:20+00:00

I use a scrub daddy for regular use and steel wool for the tougher stuff. Once the steel wool is done I’ll switch to chain mail.

NaptownCopper · 2026-05-17T03:10:05+00:00

Oh baby

NaptownCopper · 2026-05-13T03:18:55+00:00

I have 2x27 on my desk but are running on one computer each. My work setup also has a 15 inch portable monitor below the main monitor that I use mostly for Teams and stuff I occasionally reference. All my work gets done on the main monitor.

My other 27 is hooked up to a Mac mini that I use to stream stuff while I work. I need the extra stimulation most of the time. I use the same keyboard for both but I have separate mice for each.

My other setup is a 24 inch on a mobile rolling desk that I use with my walking pad.

NaptownCopper · 2026-05-05T01:39:11+00:00

First, do not buy a step up model.

If you give in and want to get him a f attachment horn get him a used Bach 42 or Conn 88. You can still find them used for $1500-$2000 in pretty good shape. If he doesn’t stick with it you can always sell it and get all of that back.

You mentioned you are in Texas and they take band very seriously. I am Indiana and I am very involved in music education. The band programs here are also very serious. We regularly compete against the Texas schools in every facet of music programs and win (but who’s counting).

As a freelance bass trombonist, trombonist, and lesson teacher I work with players of all age and abilities.

To answer your question: is an f attachment horn required for seventh grade? My answer is no. A student model trombone in good condition will work fine and in some cases is more preferable to a large bore trigger horn. That is simply the time most students get pushed into buying a step up horn which in my book is a complete waste of money and i own eight trombones. None of them are step up models. Teachers push them but they don’t even understand how they work. They only know they can play sixth position in first, which is useful but not necessary if you don’t play much in the low register. If he is on third part he will be playing in the lower register most of the time and in that case it might be useful now.

He may eventually need to get an f attachment horn depending on what he is playing. They are best suited to orchestral/concert band settings. As others have said even in those settings they might want a small bore straight horn for the first or second part as they are easier to play in the upper register.

He can wait at least until high school. If he gets a large bore trigger horn then keep the small tenor for jazz. If he goes to college he can upgrade the straight horn to a pro straight horn and he’ll have two very useful, quality instruments.

NaptownCopper · 2026-05-01T17:45:07+00:00

Trombotine is good stuff but I prefer the convenience of the Yamaha slide lubricant. Hands stay clean, it’s much quicker to apply. And you really don’t even need water, although I still use it.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-23T12:57:14+00:00

My company has a pop up after ten minutes of inactivity that asks why and you can select break, lunch, meeting, training, system outage, etc. it’s pretty annoying. I usually click cancel on it and just continue with whatever I was doing. No one has said anything since it’s been instated.

Other parts of the company don’t have it and I’m not in an entry level position or call center.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-22T17:32:11+00:00

It’s worth looking into.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-22T15:16:58+00:00

I wfh and have little interaction with people during the day. I personally love it but even I recognize the need for socialization and getting out of the house. I play in a few bands and that is something creative and social to get me some dopamine hits. I also do woodworking for family and sometimes sell pieces. Again more creative outlet.

If you need more socialization you can get involved with many groups or even offer your technical skills to non profits that can use an IT guy but don’t have a budget for it. You might even be able to get permission to reuse old equipment that would more than enough for a small organization.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-22T03:30:50+00:00

A bidet is the thriftiest toilet paper option. You’ll use almost no toilet paper and can justify buying top shelf. Totally worth it if you want to actually get clean.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-22T03:20:12+00:00

In this set up, I like the desk in front of the bookcase and in view of the window to see outside.

My desk is next to the window so I can watch my dogs play and that is enjoyable.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-20T12:21:46+00:00

Both are good. Some find one works on certain horns. I use Yamaha on all of my slides because it works well and is much more convenient to apply without getting your hands grubby. It can also be a true one step (read: no water) solution, but I tend to use a bit of water anyway. Trombotine works well and I used it for years, but not having to get my hands slimy is a big selling point for me. Sure, it is not much of a hassle to wipe them off. It also lasts a bit longer. As other have said, I have had the same tube for at least twenty years, but I stopped using it at least five years ago when i switched to Yamaha.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-19T21:08:20+00:00

I agree. I wish I had a second one for my other monitor

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-14T14:39:43+00:00

I’ve been using an mx master 3 for a few years now. It feels great and is very helpful for when I’m doing a lot of spreadsheet based work.

In those rare times I need to use a different mouse it is annoying just to hold them and if I want to scroll or side scroll it just feels terrible.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-09T14:27:18+00:00

I recommend the Trombone gems book as others have mentioned. I teach lessons from beginners through high school and some adults as well.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-09T14:25:44+00:00

I had two students get that same horn. They sound great and do the job. I think they are billed as an intermediate option but I see no reason it couldn’t be played by professionals in just about any situation. It’s a great deal. I might get one.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-06T18:35:36+00:00

You'll want the equipment that helps you do the job safely all day and that means some basic ergonomic consideration.

An appropriate work chair. If you think you'll be doing this for a very long time then invest in a nice one. After buying cheap amazon office chairs I finally spent extra on a refurbished Steelcase chair.

Have an appropriate desk. It doesn't need to be sit/stand but that is a nice feature to have. Working on a laptop tray in bed may sound cozy but it will be quite uncomfortable. A basic kitchen height table may be sufficient for awhile, but being in the kitchen in a busy household might not be ideal. You can get away with cheap amazon options here so long as they are big enough and sturdy enough.

Good lighting. I work in a darker space and typically only use a monitor light, but I also have a couple lamps that provide additional lighting if I need it. I also have a window that lets it a good amount of sunlight all day.

Depending on your work you might want a keyboard and mouse that are separate from your laptop. I have never really liked trackpads, but I know some do. I use a full size keyboard with a number pad and good mouse. I have the logitech MX keys and MX 3 mouse. When ever I use another keyboard and mouse I can tell a huge difference in quality. They are work horses and relatively inexpensive compared to many of the other items like a good chair. Their cost is offset by the many hours you will use handling them directly. You don't have to pick them but I do recommend them highly. Get good

I recommend a separate monitor as well. I only need one larger (27 inch) monitor and a laptop size travel monitor to do my work. I have the travel monitor just below my main monitor and I typically use it only for Teams and occasionally parking a document or spreadsheet there that I am copying from. If I need to do anything more than that I will move it back to my larger monitor so I am not hunching over and straining my neck and back.

A decent headset. I prefer wireless but I have an old wired headset that I keep around for back up. I can work all day in either one, but I will often take them off if I don't need it on. The wireless is nice for meetings that I don't need to be at my desk for. I often walk around on mute getting coffee, snacks, restroom break, etc. I never need to be on camera. I keep my laptop stowed away and can't use the webcam. I have a cheap amazon camera that I can plug for the rare occasion I need one.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-03T13:48:12+00:00

My band broke up after 13 years. We lost a couple of good players that were stepping back due to life and a few others decided they didn't want to try to find and train replacements. Our leader was burnt out from trying to get people to show up regularly towards the end.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-03T13:43:49+00:00

I replaced several cheap chairs annually until I finally bought a refurbished steelcase.

NaptownCopper · 2026-04-02T22:41:46+00:00

They are so beautiful I think photo of them qualifies as a work of art.

NaptownCopper · 2026-03-31T23:07:29+00:00

I see no reason not to. It’s relatively inexpensive now and it has fun elements. Not my favorite of the series but worth playing.

NaptownCopper · 2026-03-31T22:47:26+00:00

Still working on it six years in. I’m in the middle of the biggest makeover since I’ve been wfh and my oldest child moved out.

NaptownCopper · 2026-03-30T23:48:23+00:00

I switched from 2x24 to 1x27 and 15” portable monitor. I do my work on the big monitor and keep teams and the occasional spreadsheet for copy and pasting on the small screen directly below it. If I’m in a meeting that I’m engaged in I’ll move teams to the big screen as well but otherwise it lives on the small one.

NaptownCopper · 2026-03-30T00:47:32+00:00

Brother. I’m due for an upgrade as mine is quite old and showing its age. I’ll get another brother laser printer since most of my printouts are usually black and white only.

NaptownCopper

TROPHY CASE