Really Easy Jazzin' About: Fun Pieces for Trombone: Trombone Book

Wedgwood's approach to jazz pedagogy sidesteps the false choice between 'fun' and 'musically substantial.' These pieces have real syncopation and voice leading, not simplified approximations of jazz vocabulary. New trombone players get to experience swing and blues feel from day one, which matters far more to their musical development than yet another scale study.

You're stepping into a world where the trombone slides from smooth and soulful to cheeky and brash, all within the space of 24 pages. The harmonic language is modern without being abstract; the rhythms snap and syncopate in ways that feel current and alive. Pieces range from introspective ballad-like moments to high-energy funk grooves that make you want to move.

Beginning trombonists (roughly 1-2 years in) who have basic slide positions and rhythm reading under their belts but want repertoire beyond classical etudes. This collection works equally well in private studio settings and beginning band ensembles seeking to diversify their sound.

• Establish the swing eighth-note feel early in rehearsal using a play-along track or your own model; the groove won't sit right without it, but once students hear it, the style clicks quickly.
• Balance dynamics against the 'funky' tendency to play everything loud. These pieces gain their style from subtle articulation and rhythmic placement, not volume.
• Let the slide work breathe. Wedgwood writes idiomatically for trombone, and the riffs benefit from clean technique rather than rushed execution.
• Encourage students to listen to the blues and jazz recordings referenced by these styles; hearing the source material transforms how they interpret phrasing and swing.

Use individual pieces as concert variety between classical selections, or program several together as a jazz showcase set that introduces audiences to the trombone's contemporary voice. These also work beautifully as a spring concert theme, offering a lighter counterpoint to fall's more formal repertoire.

• Swing eighth-note feel and jazz articulation
• Syncopated rhythm reading in contemporary contexts
• Blues and jazz harmonic language recognition
• Expressive slide technique and tone control across dynamic ranges
• Stylistic interpretation beyond classical phrasing