The Really Easy Trombone Book: Trombone & Piano Book

The progressive arrangement keeps students engaged across all 15 pieces because each one genuinely builds on the last, and the piano parts are fully realized accompaniments rather than padding. Your students will hear themselves improve week to week, which is the real motivator for early brass players.

These pieces strike a genuine musical tone without forcing complexity. The melodies are singable and shaped with care, supported by piano accompaniments that provide harmonic interest and stylistic variety. Students experience the satisfaction of playing real music right away.

Beginning trombone students with several weeks of fundamental technique under their belts, and teachers looking for composed repertoire (not method studies) that keeps motivation high during the early learning phase. It also works for euphonium players at the same developmental level.

• Balance the trombone tone with the piano from the start; these pieces work best when both instruments sound equally present and intentional.
• Pay attention to the accompaniment rhythms in rehearsal even when working alone on the trombone part. The piano patterns often clarify harmonic movement that supports intonation.
• Encourage singers or other instrumentalists to listen to recordings of these pieces. The melodic shapes are memorable enough that hearing them once helps trombone students internalize phrasing naturally.

Use individual pieces as performance vehicles for student recitals throughout the first year of study, pairing them strategically with other young performers. You might also extract selections for informal concerts or assembly performances where you want to feature beginning brass students meaningfully.

• Playing in first position across the full basic range of the trombone
• Sustaining consistent tone and intonation over longer phrases
• Responding to piano accompaniment and playing as part of an ensemble
• Recognizing and executing basic articulation patterns
• Matching melodic shape and character to harmonic support