Emory Remington

Emory Remington (1891-1971) was a trombonist and music teacher. His unique method made him one of the most well-known and influential trombone educators in history. He was a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra from 1923 to 1949, and on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY from 1922 until his death in 1971.

Early Life

Born in Rochester, NY on December 22, 1891, Emory Remington began his musical studes in the Boys' Choir of an Episcopal Church. His Father, Fred Remington, a brass instructor who played cornet and trumpet, presented young Emory with a trombone at the age of 14. By the age of 17 he was a member (and regular soloist) with the Rochester Park Band.

In 1917 Remington joined the United States Navy and was assigned to the orchestra at a training station near Chicago, IL.

Professional Career

Upon returning from the Navy, Remington joined the Eastman Theater Orchestra in Rochester, also becoming a faculty member at the Eastman School of Music in 1922. He would remain on faculty there for the rest of his life. As a trombone teacher he was affectionately known to his students as "The Chief". He developed a system of legato warm-up exercises (now immortalized by Donald Hunsberger in his book, The Remington Warm-Up Studies (ISBN 0-918194-10-5) which have had major influences on trombone practicing up to the present time.

Remington was fond of singing, and during his lessons he would sing along with the student's trombone sound. He also encouraged his students to look for music to play that was outside of the common literature for trombone, especially music which would improve the singing characteristics of their trombone playing. His emphasis, whether in warm-up or in practice, was on relaxation and playing in a "conversational" and "singing" manner. This was quite different from the more traditional trombone methods of the time which focused on more "marcato" and regimented technical studies such as the Arban Method.

Another of Remington's contributions was the Eastman Trombone Choir. A large ensemble of trombonists would gather to play music written for multiple trombones or transcribed from other sources, such as the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach. Separating the different musical parts (i.e. SATB: soprano, alto, tenor, bass) into sections of trombonists, and transposing the music into the proper registers for the trombone.

Selected sections from his method include exercises designed around sustained long tones, security in the high register, legato tonguing, flexibility or "lip-slurs", and "pattern scales" (which would create a trombonist equally adept in all the keys).

Remington taught at the Eastman School for 49 years, teaching countless trombonists, some of whom rank among the finest trombonists in history. He died on December 10, 1971. On October 20, 1979, Room 902 at the Eastman School of Music was formally named the Emory B. Remington Rehearsal Room.

Remington's Effects

• Trombonists who studied with Emory Remington
  • Ralph Sauer - Los Angeles Philharmonic
  • Edwin Anderson - Cleveland Orchestra
  • Robert Gray - University of Illinois
  • Byron McCulloh - Pittsburgh Symphony
  • George Osborn - Rochester Philharmonic
  • Raymond Premru - London Philharmonic
  • Harold Steiman - Pittsburgh Symphony
  • Lewis Van Haney - University of Indiana
  • Elwood Williams - San Francisco Ballet
  • Bill Reichenbach - Los Angeles studio trombonist
  • David Fetter - Peabody Conservatory

sources

• The Remington Warm-Up Studies, prepared and Edited by Donald Hunsberger (ISBN 0-918194-10-5)
• Douglas Yeo's website has some quotes about Remington:http://www.yeodoug.com/publications/take_1/take1notes.html
• The International Trombone Association has a small history and award in his name:http://www.trombone.net/competitions/remington/