Belwin Master Solos, Volume 1 (Trombone): Trombone Book

This collection respects the trombone's lyrical voice while grounding students in real musical styles. The accompaniments are genuinely supportive without being afterthoughts, and the variety of sources (Renaissance pieces alongside folk songs and original compositions) means students aren't stuck in one harmonic world as they progress.

Opening this book reveals a surprising range of musical worlds in a compact space. You move from Renaissance fanfares to waltzes, contemplative evening songs to energetic folk dance arrangements, each one playable yet musically complete.

Beginning trombonists who have moved past fundamental method books and are ready for real solo material. Teachers looking for a graded source that develops musicianship alongside technique will find this invaluable for lesson planning and recital preparation.

• Approach the Renaissance Fanfare with clear articulation and confident phrasing; these pieces reward a direct, singing tone rather than overly cautious playing.
• Use the folk song arrangements as opportunities to shape simple melodies with intent. Adding subtle dynamic shaping to "My Pet Crow" or "Rio Grande" transforms these into mature musical statements.
• Balance the lyrical passages in pieces like "Night Song" and "Abendlied" with consistent air flow; younger trombonists often rush during slower sections or lose tone quality when they feel uncertain about range.

Program individual solos throughout the year as students master different technical challenges. The mix of styles makes these natural recital choices at all levels of your program, or assign them as complementary repertoire to your standard method sequence.

• Articulation clarity across different musical contexts (fanfare style versus lyrical phrasing)
• Dynamic shaping and phrase contour in melodies of varying lengths
• Consistent intonation in different key signatures and ranges
• Rhythmic precision across dotted rhythms, syncopation, and compound meters
• Collaboration with accompanists and sensitivity to harmonic support
• Musical interpretation beyond mechanical note reading