The trombonophone is best described as a cross between a pipe organ and a trombone.

Four solenoid valves control pressurized airflow to each pipe. The air vibrates a latex membrane stretched over the end of each pipe, which in turn vibrates the column of aire in the tube. Each pipe has a telescoping outer tube with a gear rack running along its length and a stepper motor with a pinion gear that meshes with the rack. The stepper motor allows the outer tube to move, thus effectively changing the pitch of the instrument by increasing or decreasing the pipe's length.

Sadly, trombonophone's life was cut short in Spring 2008 when it was disassembled for lack of cooperation. It had gained the nickname "Smokey" since it almost caught some drapes and a science board on fire during its first public appearance. The design itself is not flawed, but there were many inefficiences introduced due to less than stellar construction that made it difficult for the instrument to play. Notes could come out, but the strain on the motors limited the speed to a very restrictive 1/4 note maximum rate.