Solo Sounds for Trombone, Volume I, Levels 3-5: Piano Acc. Book

Professional and purposeful. These are arranged pieces with real harmonic depth and pianistic substance, not simplified exercises. The accompaniments respect both the trombonist's voice and the piano's capabilities, creating arrangements that sound polished in performance.

Piano collaborators learning the accompaniments for young trombonists preparing for competitions and recitals. Private studio instructors and school music programs will find this indispensable when coaching students on state list repertoire.

• Listen to the accompaniment before rehearsal to understand the harmonic language and phrasing. Many of these contest pieces have idiomatic piano writing that shapes the trombone line.
• Mark balance points in your score where the piano carries the melody or provides textural support. These moments often signal when to pull back dynamically.
• Coordinate with your pianist on the tempo during the opening measures. Establishing the groove together eliminates the lag that can happen when players join mid-rehearsal.
• Study the cadences closely; contest-level pieces often have specific harmonic resolutions that require precise intonation from the trombone.

Use this during the contest season to prepare collaborative performances with trombone soloists. The material also works beautifully in chamber recital contexts where student soloists need strong piano support but cannot field a full ensemble.

• Reading piano accompaniment scores and identifying harmonic landmarks
• Adjusting tone and vibrato to match accompaniment textures
• Maintaining steady pulse and phrasing coordination with a second performer
• Recognizing state contest repertoire standards and performance conventions