Maynard was and still is the 'Baddest" ever to lay hands on one. The closest I've come to valve trombone was "G" bugle which I played third lead soprano last year. It TOTALLY helped my trumpet playing from a breathing-volume standpoint. But I'll never do it again because I joined a month and a half before the first show in corps. I learned--1) the marching at the same time learning to adapt to the horn for the very first time ever. 2)Then I gave myself a half month to learn the music. 3) Then by the end of the season I nearly had it memorized. Hardest and toughest mission I ever had in my entire life. DRUM CORPS. NOT for the faint of heart. I got through it because-- the drive to survive. This was a senior corps. I'm 51 now. I did it last year. Never did drum corps in my life!!! Never will again. Took alot of time from family life. Bill