by Henry Henniger

As a young student I was eager to get my hands on new challenging music. I was lucky to have an excellent teacher who often gave me copies of the etudes and method books. However, as I improved I realized I wanted more. I didn’t want just one page of a Rochut or Arbans exercise, I wanted the whole book. Being an Oregon kid, I loved going to Portland Sheet Music Service and rummaging through their trombone solo’s and method books. I distinctly remember purchasing my first Schlossberg and Marstellar book and exploring every page. It helped me to see what the instrument was capable of and what else I could be practicing. It also helped me to understand what I needed to start doing to get better. This article is really about my favorite method books, aka “tools of the trade.” These are books I still use today in my own practice and teaching. They are widely used by professionals and collegiate level trombone students/studios across the globe. By no means is this meant to be a definitive list for trombonists but rather a guide to help those that may just be starting or for those that are looking for new material to sink their teeth into. 

Arban, Arban’s Famous Method for Slide and Valve Trombone – This book is a must have for all trombonists! Typically this is the first book young students are introduced to and for good reason. Topics of sound development and articulation are absorbed here through many short exercise that range in difficulty. Excerpts from the Arbans are still often used in audition material for high school All-State Band auditions. Further in the middle and back of the book, you discover multiple tongue sections, trills, and challenging melodies. 

Bordogni/Rochut, Melodious Etudes for Trombone  – I list two names here because you may recognize one name but not the other. Trombone players often refer to this book as a Rochut because of the large font size on the cover that proudly displays Rochut who is the arranger BUT not the composer! The composer is Marco Bordogni. This book is another must have for any aspiring trombonist as it helps develop legato technique, range, air/flow, phrasing and musicality. There are 3 volumes of the book so be sure you start with Volume 1. This method book is used heavily in collegiate teaching and excerpts from this book are used in auditions for various festivals, seminars, and even professional ensemble auditions. That being said, starting with this book in high school (or earlier) is critical as you gain valuable skill in legato technique – something that trombone players pride themselves on.

Edwards, Lip Slurs –  I consider this book new although it was published in 2006 – still new compared to the other method books on this list! This book has quickly become standard to professional and student trombonists everywhere. It’s filled with slurs (slow and fast) that are more unique than some of our other more traditional slurs. They also incorporate the full range of the trombone while not leaving out the tenor valve range. I find myself wanting to play out this book all day. If you want to increase your ability, work out of this book!      

Blazhevich, School for Trombones in Clefs – As the title suggest this book introduces the trombonist to different clefs – tenor and alto. The etudes start small but quickly increase in length further into the book. For me this was my first introduction to alto clef as a high school student. However, far more than clef reading these melodies are topnotch music and really fun to play once the clef reading becomes comfortable. They contain both lyrical, legato etudes and marcato style that cover the full range of the trombone. I use this book daily and I find it nice to trade out Bordogni practice for Blazhevich when my mind needs the break. This book is highly used at the collegiate and professional level. If you are thinking of becoming a music major, this book is in your near future. If you play in an orchestra and need to learn alto and tenor clef, this is your book.

Schlossberg, Daily Drills and Technical Studies for Trombone – Exercises in this book are short but high in quality. I’ve had some students misjudge this book at first claiming its easy but they quickly learn otherwise. Schlossberg exercises are humbling even to the experienced trombonist. I have a few favorites from this book that I routinely play and some that I like to come back to when I feel I need it. Don’t misjudge this book! 

Kopprasch, 60 Studies for Trombone – An excellent book to work on your staccato articulations and clarity between slurs and staccato articulations. This is also further challenging to play these exercises down an octave, something I enjoy doing and ask my students to do as well.  Knowledge of tenor clef is needed to play from this book. I view this book as an extension of the Arbans but with a slightly deeper musical feel or maturity. Several of these exercises I use as cross-training for orchestral study.

Vernon, A “Singing” Approach to the Trombone – Charley Vernon, bass trombonist of the Chicago Orchestra and student of Arnold Jacobs created his method book in 1983. I found this book exceptionally helpful as Vernon starts with breathing, buzzing, and concept of sound. For some, like myself this was my first introduction into Jacobs style teaching and it fundamentally changed the way I approached my practice. More air, more mental concept of sound. It also increased my range as the slurs range from pedal Bb to high Bb. I lived out of this book for a long time and it became engrained in my warm-up routine. 

Cimera, 55 Phrasing Studies for Trombone – This book is filled with short, simple melodies that can be used in a variety of ways. For some it’s a great starting point to work on legato style playing. For others it might be a nice way to work on range by playing these in different clefs Still others may use these within their warm-up by buzzing the melodies. The list of ways you can use these etudes goes on and on.