Can the trombone be played left-handed?

Question

Conventionally a tenor trombone is held in the left hand, with the bell crook over the left shoulder, and the slide is moved with the right hand.

Is there any reason a left-handed player shouldn't have the bell crook over the right shoulder and move the slide with the left hand?

I realise some trombones have a trigger, which expects the player to be right handed and operate the trigger paddles with the left thumb. But if the trombone itself didn't have any triggers, is there anything more than convention that dictates it be played right-handed?

Answer 1

Yes, the trombone can be played left-handed.

The potential problem is that the slide-arm has to avoid running into the bell, which is also on the left side of the instrument. However, the bell can be swung across to the opposite side to keep it clear of the arm.

There are some trombone players who have put the trombone bell over their RIGHT shoulder moved the hand slide with their LEFT hand – jazz trombonist Locksley Wellington “Slide” Hampton comes to mind. (Source: The Last Trombone)

Slide Hampton

(Source: The Last Trombone)