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MUSIC IS EXPENSIVE!

Lessons, instruments, gas money, sheet music, and the list goes on and on. It adds up fast, but there’s lots of resources to take advantage of.

1) Public Domain Method Books

Many of THE BEST method books are completely free!

  • Arban’s Method: Highly effective for isolating techniques, especially articulation. I particularly like the double/triple tonguing, intervals, and duet sections.
  • Schlossberg Daily Drills and Routines: Has patterns that will push you out of your comfort zone and expand your flexibility. Great for building range.
  • Bordogni/Rochut Melodious Etudes: A collection of vocal etudes transcribed for trombone. Fantastic for learning lyrical phrasing and building consistent legato articulation.
  • Kopprasch: Go to “Arrangements and Transcriptions” and find “for trombone or bassoon”. A challenging group of etudes transcribed from french horn. Take it way slower than you think and focus on consistent articulation.
  • Real Book 5th Edition: Certainly not the prettiest, but I loved sight reading out of this. Find backing tracks on YouTube or buy iRealPro.

2) Free music websites

  • 8notes: Free music and backing tracks to play along with! Has lots of popular music from many styles.
  • IMSLP: A large collection of public domain music.
  • TBZ Monthly: Brad Edwards releases a newsletter every month and they are AMAZING!!! He always has an original melody, some technique exercise, a sneak peek at his new book (usually), and some words of wisdom.

3) Listen! Listen! LISTEN!!!!!

See playlists of my trombone listening recommendations here! I tried to include a wide variety of genres because the trombone is a truly versatile instrument.

Open the YouTube link in a new tab for the full playlist.

4) Band teachers!

Band rooms, especially if your school is old, often have tons of sheet music collecting dust. Ask your band teacher for music they may have AND PLAY FOR THEM! Most will be more than happy to listen and give you pointers.

5) My packets!

For my high school students, I often use these packets to teach bigger ideas and a good thing to reference when confused. See my packets page!