First Division Band Method, Part 3: Trombone Book

Part 3 arrives at the moment when students have internalized fundamental technique and are ready for greater independence on their instruments. The proven progression builds confidence without overwhelming young trombonists, and the coordinated material across all band instruments means your entire section stays synchronized in their learning journey.

The material balances review and new challenges, so students feel capable while encountering fresh musical ideas. Melodies become more substantial and arranging more varied, rewarding the progress students have made while maintaining the clarity and accessibility that defines the method.

This book serves young trombonists in their third year of the First Division Band Method sequence, typically in middle school concert band settings. It works best for students who have completed Parts 1 and 2 and are ready to expand their technical range and rhythmic vocabulary.

• Isolate passages that cross positions; break them into smaller segments so students build muscle memory for the position shifts rather than rushing through them.
• Play through solos and duets in class before assigning them for home practice; hearing a peer or yourself model the phrasing removes ambiguity about tempo and style.
• Mark valve positions or slide positions lightly in pencil on tricky passages during the first read, then erase and re-learn without the visual aid.

Use Part 3 as your primary trombone curriculum for the second half of the school year or during your third year of instruction, coordinating directly with your trumpet, clarinet, and other section books to keep all students progressing in lockstep. The 32-page format works well for steady weekly assignments alongside ensemble rehearsals.

• Reading in treble and bass clefs with fluency
• Playing across multiple positions with accuracy
• Rhythmic patterns including syncopation and mixed meters
• Tone control at varying dynamics and registers
• Sight-reading preparedness for early ensemble literature