ERGObrass Trombone Support System
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Why the ERGObone?
Well, the reason for using it is actually very simple and obvious. The trombone weighs about 1,3 to 2,8 kilos (3,0 to 6,1 lb). Your left arm weighs about 4 to 5 kg (9 to 11 lb) and you keep both of them up at the same time. All the time when you play.
Of course, you can keep the trombone and the left arm up in a playing position, with continually tensed muscles. However, if you can avoid this, the important question is, is there really any sense in keep on doing it? Would the playing be better in the long run if your upper body could stay more relaxed?
The ERGObone helps you to keep a good posture and breathe more freely and efficiently. Would it not be better to lean, or even hang, your left arm on the trombone rather than keep it continually tensed up?
Yes, I’m trying to open your eyes…
If you really focus on the normal playing position, you will realize that it is really not sensible to stay for hours and hours in a static tensed position like this. I mean, really, if you could play without the static tension, why not do it?
Description
Health issues have become important
The way the trombone is played was developed about 500 years ago. They did not understand anything about the ergonomics back then.
Today we do understand the ergonomic challenges involved in this. Furthermore, many present models have become a lot heavier; therefore that old irrational tradition of holding your instrument with the everlasting static tension should be questioned.
Comfort after short adjusting time
You need some time to readjust your perception about trombone playing. You need a moment to get used to the different feeling of the nearly weightless instrument. You also need to practise how to handle the horn, everything cannot obviously be done exactly the same way as before, but the new way is not any worse, just slightly different. After that period, you will enjoy playing with less tension.
Only after you have learned to play with it you can say whether it is good or not. But like always, it is a lot easier to condemn something new without even trying it out!
Technical details
In the ERGObone kit you will find the following parts:
- The black harness, with genuine leather covered shoulder paddings
- A chest part, made of clear plastic plate and black plastic counter part
- The plastic clamp, gray or black in colour; plastic padding inside the clamp
- The support rod with a spring mechanism and height adjustment
- The black support tube made of aluminium; a rubber plug in the bottom end and a rubber band in the upper end
A plastic fastener is attached near the centre of gravity of the trombone and it joins either to a monopod tube standing on the chair, or to a plastic counterpart hanging from a comfortable harness – similar to other wind instrument harnesses.
The spring mechanism enables a smooth playing experience. The trombone floats freely on top of the spring. You can adjust the horn to stay in desired height and fix that with the disc lock.
