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?
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?
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.
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?
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?
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.