Repertoire Ideas for Trombone

It may prove a daunting prospect when thinking about chosing new pieces to play on the trombone. With a vast range of music available to suit all levels of ability, it is hard, particularly without the guidance of an experienced teacher, to know where to start. Although I generally ask my students to prepare certain music after our first lesson, when we have discussed what you enjoy playing and I have assessed your requirements, the following suggestions may prove helpful for those currently without a teacher, or for those looking for repertoire to bring along to your first lesson.

Beginner

There are many collections of shorter pieces available which are fun and rewarding to play when starting out on the trombone. Most, if not all, of these are great to have, but I have recommended below a few which I have found to be particularly worth while for the student to use:

• Bourgeois Splinters of Bone
• Gout Going Solo for Trombone
• Hare The Magic Trombone
• Mowat Slideshow for Trombone
• Nightingale Easy Jazzy 'Tudes
• It is also useful to have a basic tutor book such as 'Tune a Day', 'Going for Gold', or 'Lafosse Book 1'

Intermediate

As an intermediate trombone player, perhaps wishing to progress onto more advanced repertoire in the future, it is important to begin to work at and improve areas of basic technique and extend these areas to become more versatile. Whilst you should continue to play pieces with piano, as suggested below, it is a good idea to begin to get to know and regularly play unaccompanied studies as part of your practice routine.

Suggested Studies:

• Naulais Études Variées de Virtuosité et de Technique, Vol. 2 – 23 Études: No. 21, Promenade
• Mowat Unlocking the Tenor Clef: No. 17, Allegro
• Bourgeois Fantasy Pieces for tenor trombone: No. 4, Moderato cantabile

Suggested Repertoire:

• Purcell When I am Laid in Earth (from Dido and Aeneas). The Baroque Trombone, arr. Wills
• Purcell Rondo (from Abdelazer) in Slide Show for Trombone, arr. Mowat
• Rimsky-Korsakov Trombone Concerto: Mvt 1&2
• Curnow Fantasy for Trombone

Advanced

It is likely that players of a more advanced level will by now have a good idea of the repertoire for trombone; however, it is important to maintain a healthy balance between practising more challenging repertoire and continuing to take care of the basics. This is perhaps most easily acheived by the development of a thoough warm up routine. I recommend that all advanced players get hold of a copy of Emory Remington's 'Warm-Up Guide', and use this as a starting point for their daily routine.The following suggestions are a small sample of the the vast material available to the advanced player. The repertoire suggested includes most of the standard pieces expected to be learnt by those having reached Grade 8, or those reaching the possibility of first year music college level.

Suggested Studies:

• Kopprasch 60 Selected Studies: Vol 1-3
• Bourgeois Fantasy Pieces for Trombone
• Naulais Études Variées de Virtuosité et de Technique, Vol. 3 – 18 Études
• Rochut Melodious Études for Trombone: Vol.1-2

Suggested Repertoire:

• Castérède Sonatine for Trombone
• Guilmant Morceau Symphonique, Op. 88
• Saint-Saëns Cavatine, Op. 144
• Larsson Concertino for Trombone,Op. 45 No. 7
• Šulek Sonata ‘Vox Gabrieli’
• Hindemith Sonata for Trombone

These suggestions are by no means exhaustive, and I always recommend that pupils explore repertoire and find pieces which they like to play. Suggestions of pieces to look at can be discussed during your consultation lesson, with the main goal being set on playing something which you enjoy working on!