This week I have been thinking about trombones; and I would like to know how many is too many?

If they all play the same exact tune, in tune, depending on the space and audience, two trombones may be too many.

If one or two trombones play the melody and all other trombones play variations and accompaniment, then (again, depending on the space and audience) any multitude of trombones may not be too many.

If you don't like trombone music, one trombone may be too many.

If you grow weary of trombone music, one trombone may be too many.

If you prefer listening to the flute, or the trumpet, or the clarinet, or the violin, or the saxophone, instead of the trombone, then you are likely to prefer that the trombone be relegated to accompaniment only, and any volume of trombones greater than the volume of flutes, or trumpets, or clarinets, or violins, or saxophones, is too many trombones.

If you play the flute, or the trumpet, or the clarinet, or the violin, or the saxophone, and you do not play the trombone, then you cannot fully understand the trombone.

If you do not play the flute, or the trumpet, or the clarinet, or the violin, or the saxophone, or the trombone, then you cannot fully understand the necessity (or in some cases, even grasp the concept) of interdependent harmony.

If you do not play the flute, or the trumpet, or the clarinet, or the violin, or the saxophone, or the trombone, then you are more likely to gravitate toward music dominated by simple, comfortable vocals.

If you play the flute, or the trumpet, or the clarinet, or the violin, or the saxophone, or the trombone, then you learn to appreciate the steadying and stimulating influence of percussion.

So just how many trombones is too many trombones?

I believe we have too many trombones...
...and too few flutes
...and a weak drummer
...and saxophones that are out of tune
...and trumpets that hijack the melody
...and violinists trying to play fiddle
...and fiddlers trying to play violin
...and clarinets slowing down the tempo
...and vocalists stealing the spotlight
...and batonless leaders who do not play the flute, or the trumpet, or the clarinet, or the violin, or the saxophone, or the trombone.