Dependent or Independent?

 First, this is clearly regarding bass trombones. That said, this topic can generate no little controversy. I play dependent; so do Bill Reichenbach, Craig Ware, John Rojak, Doug Yeo, Dave Taylor, Jeff Reynolds, Gerry Pagano, George Flynn, Max Seigel, Pierre Beaudry, Angus Butt, et al. – as did Phil Teele. I have spent 45 years or so learning one set of trombone valve tricks; this old dog is not interested in learning a new set. I have tried independent and new tricks – and always resorted to my old ways under the gun (there’s enough to think about without that). I suspect that may be a factor with many of us in the dependent camp.

Blair Bollinger makes a compelling case for independent valves here. Gerry Pagano does the same here for dependent. Doug Yeo discusses this topic at length here. Doug also addresses single-valve bass trombone, as does Gerry here. George Roberts revolutionized (note the elegant "faking" at the end) the bass trombone with only one valve and Phil Teele had blazing technique with dependent (F & Eb) valves and old-school roller-bar thumb paddles. (Frankly, nearly all the symphonic repertoire is accessible with one valve, as Israel Philharmonic bass trombonist, Micha Davis, proves.) I am addicted to two dependent valves – YMMV.

That said, I do perceive a timbral/response difference, but with modern valves, it is minimal – and there are some advantages technique-wise. Most players today choose independent, and many of them sound wonderful. I tell my students: “play independent – it's the wave of the future . . . uh. . . present.” But, whatever you practice the most will sound the best.

By the way, Doug's article on the Evolution of the Double-Valve Bass Trombone is excellent. Also, this YouTube video is a pretty good history. And this Wikipedia article on The Bass Trombone is worth reading.