Trombone Buyers Guide
from the MMF! Music Library

Student Trombones
Student trombones are machine made and built for durability and budget-minded families. A student model is commonly a tenor trombone. Student trombones are built with a small bore which is important for a beginners, because it doesn't take very much air to produce a quality tone. Most student trombones are made of yellow brass. Some student models that are made of rose brass to give the trombone a slightly darker tone color.

Intermediate Trombones
Intermediate trombones are built with a medium-large bore. Intermediate trumpets are designed for students that have been playing for at least 2 years, and have acquired basic playing skills. They are typically based on high-end instruments, but are built with less expensive manufacturing techniques, and are more often made of rose brass.

Professional Trombones
Professional model trombones respond more freely and offer improved tone quality. High-end trombones are recommended for high school students and above. Parents desiring to save a little should start with a student trumpet and transition into a professional line trumpet in high school, by passing the intermediate level instrument.