Trombone Lessons in Denver
Colorado Honor Band offers trombone lessons in Denver, Westminster, Thornton, Centennial, and Littleton. Our after school music program provides weekly one-on-one coaching and band classes, seasonal public performances, a yearly summer camp, and national and international travel opportunities.
Trombone General Information
The trombone is the only instrument without keys or valves, but instead a movable slide. By having the movable slide it can also produce a glissando, a unique sound effect only made possible by this instrument by moving the slide while blowing. Like all brass instruments, pitches are created by blowing air through a cup-shaped mouthpiece while either tightening or loosing the lips and moving the slide into a specific position.
Types of Trombones
Early history of this instrument goes back to the late 1400’s, with a predecessor-type instrument known then as a sackbut, but the name later changed to the trombone. Current trombones sizes used today are the tenor and bass. Most trombone players start with a simple tenor trombone, then usually by junior high or high school move into using a tenor trombone with an F attachment. Those players who prefer lower parts will use the even larger bass trombone.
Trombone’s Role in Music
The trombone has been an important part of the orchestra, jazz bands as well as brass ensembles, brass bands, marching band and drums and bugle corps (using a valve trombone). In a concert band, the trombone is part of the low brass section along with the baritone and the tuba. The range of an experienced player can be almost 3 octaves or more. Trombone parts are written in bass clef and they play and work together as an ensemble. Occasionally, the first trombone part may have a small solo section within a piece. For marching band, the trombone is usually seen at the front of the band.
Famous Trombonists
- Arthur Pryor (1870-1942)
- Emory Remington (1892-1971)
- Denis Wick (1931-current)
- Joseph Alessi (current)
- Christian Lindberg (current)
Trombone Repertoire
Solo Literature
- Trombone & Baritone Gems, Solo Collection by Vandercook
- First Solos for the Trombone Player, transcribed by Henry Charles Smith
- Trombone Essentials, 11 Recital & Contest Solos, arr. By Douglas Yeo
- Concert and Contest Collection, edited by Voxman
- Morceau Symphonique, by Alexandre Guilmant
- Sonata (1941), Paul Hindemith
- Concerto, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsadoff
Technical Method Books
- Complete Method for Trombone/Baritone, by J. B. Arban
- Melodious Etudes Book 1,2,3, by Joannes Rochut
- Introduction to Legato, by Reginald H. Fink
- Studies in Legato, by Reginald H. Fink
- Warm-ups, by Emory Remington
- The F Attachment and Bass Trombone, by Allen Ostrander