Tip From The Top

By Derek Southcott

Derek Southcott, who was Champion Trombone of Britain at the age of 18, has been Lead Trombone with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra for the past 24 years. Before that he spent nine years as soloist with Black Dyke Mills Band, when he was also a member of James Shepherd's Versatile Brass, and eight years as Lead Trombone with the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra.

He has toured with Johnny Mathis, Shirley Bassey, Jack Jones, Tommy Steele, Cliff Richard and Tom Jones.

The Derek Southcott Sextet was formed in 1987 and has recorded many sessions for BBC Radio 2 programmes such as Night Ride, The Early Show, Ken Bruce Show, Music Through Midnight, and many more. The sextet has made a CD, Facets, accompanied by the Stocksbridge Brass Band, available from Kirklees Music (KRCD 1011).

Derek was Brass Tutor at the Leeds College of Music for two years an Professor of Brass for the Army, King's Division, York, for six years. He currently teaches at Barnslev College and directs the College Dance Orchestra. He is an endorsee for Yamaha instruments.

  1. Whilst practising at home we develop many techniques, but one has to have the confidence to apply those techniques on gigs, e.g. circular breathing, just to name one of many. I first put this into practice whilst playing with the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra. Many of the arrangements involved long phrases for trombone, so while rehearsing them before the red light went on I used to apply the technique and built up my confidence to use it 'live' on solos with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra in front of audiences.
  2. Don't try new techniques straight away with the trombone; do them first without the instrument e.g. double or triple tonguing. Master the technique first and then try it on the instrument - a little bit like applying the old saying, Don't run before you can walk.
  3. Always play in the style a Musical Director wants, and be prepared to discuss styles and suggest different phrases or mutes if you think it may improve the musical arrangement. After all, they may not be aware of all the styles and techniques a trombone can offer.
  4. Last but not least, two small emergency tips: a thin sliver of half inch garden hose can replace buffer corks at the top of the slide. Use "Blu Tac" for an emergency water key seal if your cork goes.

I hope the above tips are useful to one and all, and please pass on all your own tips to other trombone players as this can only enhance playing for the up and coming players of the future. 

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