Rhythms & Rests: 2nd Trombone (Baritone B.C./Bassoon) Book

Erickson strips away busywork and gets straight to what matters: students need to read rests with the same confidence they read notes, and irregular meters aren't mysterious if you approach them systematically. The pairing of isolated drills with full-band contexts means second trombones and baritones aren't just surviving the section part—they're understanding why the rhythms matter.

Methodical and grounded. You're building confidence one drill at a time, then immediately hearing how your newly learned pattern fits into a real band arrangement. The irregular meters feel less foreign once you've practiced them in isolation.

Second trombone and baritone players who need structured work on rhythmic accuracy and rest awareness. This book works for students in grades 4-7 who are ready to stop guessing and start understanding why rests shape a musical line.

• Count rests as actively as you count notes; silence is part of your line. Mark your entry points clearly in pencil so you never lose your place during full-band arrangements.
• When approaching the irregular meters (5/8, 7/8), tap your foot on beat one and subdivide internally before playing; the companion duets give you a partner to lock onto during the transition.
• Treat the solo etudes as polished performances, not just preparation exercises. Record yourself and listen back to hear where your phrasing breathes naturally.

Integrate one unit per week into sectional rehearsals during the fall semester, or use it as remedial work when your band struggles with rhythmic ensemble precision. The full-band arrangements at the end of each unit can transition directly into rehearsal, so the learning becomes part of your concert preparation rather than a separate exercise.

• Reading and counting extended rests with accuracy
• Navigating irregular meters (5/8, 7/8) with confidence
• Maintaining rhythmic precision in changing eighth-note patterns
• Entering reliably after sustained rests
• Building independence through duet and solo playing
• Connecting isolated rhythm work to full ensemble context