Hi SouthPaw41L (is that your suit size?) - There are lots of method books for trombone.  Get to know a local high school band director and you can probably score some for free. 

Also, Florida is home to tons of community bands made up of retirees who have played for decades.  Chances are there is a community band in your town (or nearby) that has some excellent 'bone players who would be happy to help you.

A few lessons from a veteran would give you a huge jump start on technique.  Since this is your first wind instrument, breath control and embouchure (what to do with your lips, jaw, toungue, etc.) will be major hurdles.

You already have a trained ear (very important for trombone) and an understanding of Music, and you know how to practice - so you will have big fun entering the world of Brass! 

Remember how sore your fingers got when you were first learning guitar????  Playing trombone you will find out just how sore your lips can get and discover facial muscles that you didn't know were even there.  I play bassoon - my son is learning trombone and we practice together - it's great fun.

Hi Old Doll - Powerful parable you experienced at an early age.  Abuses of authority and power are prone to happen in any organization, but you expect better of someone in the ministry.

Last Rebel - You are correct that the government should not tax people for practicing religion.  However, all you need to practice Christianity is faith and the willingness to help other people. 

However, when a group of like-minded people decides they also need property, buildings, employees, vehicles, equipment, etc. - and when they also generate revenues, make investments in capital resources, budget expenses, etc - well then they have crossed a boundary and become a business.  It may be a non-profit business, but it is still a business.

Since some religious organizations have been subsidized by governments over many years they have grown to be self-serving, inwardly-focused, self-important, wealthy empires.  These empires are primarily concerned with self-preservation rather than fulfilling their core mission.

I am not anti-church.  I am an active participant in a church.  I just observe that too many churches are more concerned with matters of finance rather than matters of faith.

Ken has a very good point that money is the prime motivator for too many religious types.

Here is a video from years ago that tells a story about "The First Self-Righteous Church"
"The Mississippi Squirrel Revival"
by Ray Stevens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpfmosf9FpU

Ken, I agree that some churches can get entirely consumed with money and power and become purely self-serving entities - particulary when the church and state are one and the same.  However, not all religious organizations have (or want) secular sanction or authority. 

Unfortunately, there are plenty of zealous fundamentalist radicals here in the US that are very serious about 'taking back America' (whatever that means).  There are overtly political organizations that are tax-exempt simply because they claim to be churches.  Personally, I think that the tax-exempt status of all religious groups should be eliminated and their properties and revenues should be taxed like any other business entity.

Hi Ken - Looks to me like the chart probably has a mistake.

I think that version of the chord should start way up on the 10th fret (not the 0 fret).
That way, the low E string at the 11th fret will give you the D.

Anybody else have any insight on this?
James

Fascinating bio, Zurf - your church sounds like the kind of place where good things can happen - a thriving and diverse community.  Ideally, all churches should be focused on helping real people with real problems (rather than being a self-serving exclusive club).

I have lived in the Midwest and South.  Now live in a small town in rural Mississippi where there are dozens of churches - mostly 'mainline' brands, but also lots of 'local-only' type congregations that have coalesced around the charisma of a particular (and often self-ordained) preacher.  These small groups often meet in rented spaces or other temporary locations.

Inthis small town, there are dozens of different flavors of Baptist churches (Southern, Missionary, 'Hardshell', Primitive, 'Full Gospel', etc.).  There is a Roman Catholic parish (with an Irish priest, of course since American priests are seemingly extinct).  There are several Methodist and Presbyterian congregations.  There are Lutherans, Mormons, Pentecostals, 7th Day Adventists, Unitarian Universalists, Wiccans, Pagans, Quakers, Mennonites, Anglicans, Church of God, Church of God In Christ, Church of God in Christ Holiness, and Holy Rollers of all sorts.  Various tent revivals come through town with regularity.  There is also a mosque in our town (mostly for international students at the university).  The closest Synagogue is 25 miles away in another town.  My family and I are Episcopalian and are members of the local parish.

So, basically there are lots of alternatives for worship and fellowship in this little community.  Not everybody is affiliated with a group, but that is because we enjoy freedom of (and from) religion.  In a town like this, most everybody has a "church home" that is an important part of their life.

As to music; Some churches have clapping/stomping/hollering/sweating gospel choirs.  Some have electric bands.  Some have pre-recorded soundtracks (yuck!).  Some have traditional organists and choirs that are really horribly boring.  Some have traditional organists and choirs that are outstanding.  Of course, the Quakers sit together in silence.

My family and I enjoy being a part of our chosen church because we have many wonderful friends there and because together we can all do good things that we could otherwise not accomplish alone.  Where else could you get to know people of all ages and from all walks of life?  Where else could I sing in a really great choir (and go out for beers after rehearsal)?

So, to get back to gitaardocphil's original question - here in the USA there are many many different traditions and styles of worship and worship music.  Some the best American musicians got their first real exposure to and taste of music from a church.  James

Hi guitargirl21!  You are no longer 'guitatgirl21' - I changed your user name for you.
Welcome to chordie.  James

Hi guitatgirl - Hopefully, you'll always be learning - that is the fun of music, there is always more to figure out and more to do.  Welcome to chordie!

I'm in Mississippi, but I hope you can locate somebody near to you in Washington state.  There are people from all over the world on here - there are bound to be some more from your area.

Wow - So many new postings in the Songwriting forum.  Have not had time to really appreciate many of them yet - but the weekend is coming soon, so looking forward to quality time with new stuff put up lately.

Old Doll, today is your birthday?  Wonderful & Joyous!
Here is a musical birthday present - a link to the jukebox on Iris Dement's website . . . lots of wonderful songs for your listening pleasure.
http://www.irisdement.com/mp3s.html
Her songs are just so splendidly honest and sweet and true.  Happy Birthday, Old Doll!

Hi hazenk & welcome to chordie!

It is great you are getting back into playing - music makes life even better.

There are 2 chordie forum participants who have recently praised their Bose 41L systems here.  SouthPaw41L (moderator of Guitars & Accessories forum) and gordondc (member) are both very happy with their Bose systems.

Here is a link to that discussion thread:
http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1328
You can also click on their names next to their postings to contact them personally vie email.

Hope this helps - James

Hi JimiMack and welcome to chordie!

Regarding the 'sus' chords: The 'sus' stands for 'suspended'.
The sus chords omit the 3rd from the chord and use another note instead.

For instance a regular G chord contains these notes: G, B, D (1, 3, 5) which is a major triad.
A Gsus2 contains these notes: G, A, D (1, 2, 5).
A Gsus4 contains these notes: G, C, D (1, 4, 5).
A Gsus contains these notes: G, D (1, 5).  These 1, 5 chords are also known as 'power chords'.

In each case the 'B' (or 3) is omitted (suspended) and another note takes it's place (or not, as in the power chords).

Regarding '2' chords, I suspect that what you are seeing is actually notation that actually means the 'sus2' chords.  Look on chordies 'Resource' page at the large chord chart and you can probably find what you need (along with alternative fingerings).

Don't feel ignorant regarding this stuff.  The terminology of music is very old and seemingly absurd to our ears.  It all means something, but some of the terms are not user-friendly and sometimes terminology gets garbled or mis-used.

Better to ask a question and learn than to suffer in silence.  Hope all this helps.  If you are unfamiliar with basic chord structure, now is the time to start learning.

Again, welcome to chordie and the forum.  James