Q&A: Former teacher still in tune with learning

STERLING – Lurking beneath a rural Sterling residence is a space where Tom Slothower creates.

By day, Slothower, 82, is a retired teacher, churchgoer, husband. But every morning, he becomes something else – model car collector, Batman enthusiast, trombone player, singer.

Slothower didn’t pick up the trombone until he retired from the Morrison School District 15 years ago after what he calls “30 happy years” teaching elementary school. Now, every morning, he enters his cave, and works toward his ultimate goal:

Playing a trombone duet with a fellow trombonist he admires: his son, Todd.

One of the things that really intrigues me about you is your trombone work.

What I did when I retired was I decided to take up the trombone. I bought a junk trombone for $100, bought a beginner’s book, and started …

I don’t like rock music. I don’t like being in taverns with people drinking and smoking. So I stayed with my singing until I took up the trombone. … My son plays trombone, and I was hoping to play duets with him. But I’m never good enough [laughs].

That's so interesting to me. A lot of times people are playing instruments from a very young age.

I was 67 when I retired, when I picked up the horn.

Do you think you're getting to the point where maybe you'll be able to play some duets?

Actually, several years ago … there was a band playing up at the Sterling Coliseum. I went up to the director and said, Can I try out for your band? He said yeah. So I became the third trombone player, and I’ve been with them now for about 10 years.

Is there anything else about the trombone that you love?

I love Tommy Dorsey a whole lot. There’s not very many who can play like him. And I just love the sound of the trombone. I should have stayed with my drums, because I was really good at that. With [the trombone], I’m self-taught.

I'm guessing in the beginning, to be self taught, you're really experimenting …

You just build. My wife’s a music teacher, so she’s been kind of around music her whole life. A non-music wife probably wouldn’t have tolerated it.

I'm not a music player, I don't really know what people get out of it …

There’s the emotional satisfaction of it. When you hear an in-tune horn, it’s beautiful. It’s the beauty of music well done. When it’s not well done, that’s another story. And then it’s the fun of being with other players. And then there’s the mental challenge, which I really covet. Because at my age, you tend to slip. … What I’d like to do is way beyond what I can do.

Mentally, you're exercising your mind?

Oh yeah. It’s challenging. You have to count, there’s math, it’s complicated. It really is.

Do you feel as though playing keeps you sharp?

Oh, yes. People ask me ‘How old are you?’ I say I’m 82. They say ‘You look like and act like you’re 65.’ It’s because I’m busy all the time.

Band play, instrumental-type music, is something you're really into. I find it fascinating that that's your fix.

I can’t say anything bad about it.

This here is your workshop …

This is where I record.

Do you spend a lot of time down here? This is your space?

Yes. I get up in the morning, and this is where I exercise. After that, I play the trombone for about an hour, I practice singing for 20 minutes, and by that time, it’s 11 o’clock. Then there’s housework to be done.

It's so funny to me to see an 82-year-old who's also obsessed with superheroes. What's the fascination there?

I love art. I love color. I love the blacks and blues of Batman, and I’ve just always been fascinated with him. I love the Batman movies – when Michael Keaton was Batman, he is such a neat guy.

Is he the best Batman?

I’m prejudiced because I like him [laughs].

Do you read a lot of the comics or just the movies?

Just the movies.

I'm pretty prejudiced to the Christian Bale Batman myself. Are you excited for Batman versus Superman? That's got to be on your radar, right?

Um … Yeah! It’s funny. Neither my wife nor I like to watch movies. Neither of us like to sit still that long. So Batman is my one vice.