"Boker tov" is a general greeting that you can use instead of "shalom" as long as it's before midday. It's suitable in any context, regardless of who you're greeting. Israelis may respond "boker or," which means "morning light." This phrase is only used in response to "boker tov." You can also respond by simply saying "boker tov" back. The phrase "tzoharaim tovim" literally means "good midday." While you may hear it anytime after noon and before sunset, it's generally more appropriate in the early afternoon. If you want to use this phrase later in the afternoon, but before evening, add "akhar" (ahk-hahr) to the beginning of it. Since "tzoharaim tovim" means "good midday," "akhar tzoharaim tovim" means "good after-midday" or "good afternoon." This phrase can be used until the sun sets. This phrase means "good evening," and is appropriate as a greeting after the sun sets, but before late night. This is a more formal phrase that you probably wouldn't use around friends or people your own age. However, it's appropriate to use in shops, restaurants, or when greeting a stranger – particularly if they are older than you and you want to sound polite. In response to "erev tov," many people will simply say "erev tov" back. They may also say "shalom" or ask how you're doing or how they can help you. This phrase literally means "good night," and is used as both a greeting and a farewell in Hebrew. It's appropriate in any context, regardless of who you're greeting. If someone says "lilah tov" to you, it's appropriate to say "lilah tov" back. You can also simply say "shalom."

Summary: Say "boker tov" (boh-kehr tahv) to greet people in the morning. Try "tzoharaim tovim" (tsoh-hah-rye-ihm tahv-ihm) as a greeting around noon. Switch to "erev tov" (ehr-ehv tahv) after the sun sets. Use "lilah tov" (lie-lah tahv) late at night.


To calculate percent decrease using this formula, subtract the smaller number (the new or final value) from the bigger number (the original or old value). Note that this is the opposite of finding percent change using the standard equation. For instance, say you’re trying to figure out how much a school’s enrollment changed between years. If the enrollment for this year is 12,125 and it was 13,500 last year, take 12,125 away from 13,500, which is 1,375. Remember that when determining percent decrease, the original value is the bigger number. In this case, divide 1,375 (the difference between the numbers) by 13,500 (the original value), which is equal to 0.1019 (when rounded). Converting your answer from a decimal to a percentage is easy—just multiply the value by 100. Multiply 0.1019 by 100, which is 10.19. So, enrollment decreased by 10.19%.

Summary: Subtract the new value from the original value. Divide your answer by the original value. Multiply your answer by 100.


Hold the small mouthpiece to the middle of your lips. Now, press your lips firmly against it, inhale deeply, and blow out through it. Keep the corners of your lips tight and leave the center loose. Blow hard enough that you feel your lips vibrate and hear a blowing sound.  Make a small hole in the center of your lips as you blow air. Don't puff your cheeks out when playing—this will make you short of breath quickly, and your note will sound rough and spluttered. High pitches are created by faster lip vibrations, which are created by tightening your lips as you blow. To tighten your lips, pull back the corners of your mouth to make them more firm as you play higher. Your jaw should raise naturally and the air you're blowing should move in a more downward motion. The final sound should be a "tee."  Make sure that you stay relaxed when playing higher notes and blow faster air through the instrument. Don't make any weird faces that would cause tension in the sound. It will feel natural to press against the mouthpiece for higher notes—resist this temptation, as it will lead to problems later. Low pitched notes are created by slower lip vibrations, which are accomplished by loosening the center of your lips and dropping your jaw. However, the air still needs to remain fairly fast and steady. To maintain a good quality sound, you'll need to exhale more air than you do with higher pitched notes. Keep in mind that trombones—especially bass trombones or tenor trombones with trigger attachments—need a lot more air to play a well-supported note because of all the extra tubing. When you first start playing the lower register, it may be very challenging. To do well, increasing your lung capacity is the key. Drop your jaw and part your lips slightly to achieve a rounder, brassier sound. Always remember that playing "openly" does not mean loosening your lips. The first position is when the slide is almost all the way in. The second position is a little more than halfway between 1st and 3rd. Again, this position will vary, but the higher the note, the higher the slide tends to need to be. The third position is slightly after the bell, but will vary depending on the register in which the note is played. Make sure you don't slam the slide in when returning to the first position. The fourth position is located just past the bell, and the fifth position is located a little past the fourth position. The sixth position is almost all the way out—near the seventh position—and the seventh position is all the way out  On most trombones, there is a lip or marking where the seventh position is. The positions may vary slightly depending on the type of trombone you play.
Summary: Blow through the mouthpiece using an "o" shape with your lips. Play higher pitched "tee" notes by tightening your lips. Play lower pitched "tay" notes by loosening your lips. Blow harder and more "openly" to play louder. Learn the first 3 positions on the slide. Practice the remaining four positions on the slide.