First Division Band Method, Part 1: Trombone Book

The First Division Band Method has earned its reputation through proven pedagogy rather than trends. This trombone book moves students through fundamentals with clarity and purpose, letting you spend rehearsal time on music-making instead of deciphering unclear instruction.

Steady and encouraging. Each page builds confidence through small, achievable steps. Students encounter recognizable song melodies early, which transforms abstract exercises into familiar musical experiences.

Beginning trombone students in school band programs who need a systematic, reliable introduction to the instrument. This book works equally well for older beginners and younger students just starting their band journey.

• Establish consistent slide positions before adding air. Weber's sequence introduces each new position deliberately, so honor the pacing rather than skipping ahead.
• Use a light embouchure and plenty of air support from the start. The method assumes students will develop efficient breath control, so model this daily.
• Review previous material regularly. The book is cumulative by design, and students who skip back to earlier exercises often discover they've missed foundational concepts.

Pair this with your standard beginning band curriculum as the trombone-specific text. It coordinates with other First Division parts, making it ideal for heterogeneous beginning band classes where students start at different points or progress at different paces.

• Slide position identification and accuracy (positions 1 through 7)
• Long tone production and breath control
• Reading in treble clef with leger lines
• Rhythmic accuracy in simple and compound meters
• Tonguing and articulation fundamentals
• Basic musical interpretation through familiar melodies