The Only Bass Trombone Player

By McKayla Bogda
Published: September 23, 2015

The FHN Symphonic Band has five trombones, but one of them is a little different. Junior Fionna Pillow is the lone bass trombone, and she often plays parts all by herself.

“We always look for the best person for the position because without it there’s no depth to the music,” band director Jeff Moorman said.

Pillow started playing tenor trombone in sixth grade, but her freshman year she was asked to switch to bass trombone. When she agreed she ended up finding her passion in music. Once she switched, she was more driven to practice and really enjoyed playing.

“I found my niche in terms of musicality and when you find something you are passionate for music wise it just really locks in,” Pillow said.

After Pillow switched she became less timid because she was the only one playing her part most of the time. According to Pillow, sometimes playing by herself is a challenge, but she has been driven to push through and be the best she can be.

“I’d say a bass trombone is always needed in music, because just like a flute or a tuba, or any other instrument,” Rachel Kehoe, sophomore tenor trombone player, said. “It has its own part that’s different from the other sections.”

The bass trombone has a lower darker timbre than a tenor trombone. It depends on the piece of music if there is a bass trombone part or not. They are usually needed for jazz bands, orchestral works, some brass choir works and bandworks grade four and up. The music is a lot of long notes, harmonizing and it usually is a tie between trombone and tuba parts.

“Everybody is an individual, if you are the only one you’ve got to work harder and that is what is better about being the only one,” Pillow said. “You get to work harder and it shows through faster than if you are with everybody else.”