Yamaha Trombone Student: Trombone Book

O'Reilly's design philosophy keeps young trombonists engaged without sacrificing foundational work. The inclusion of 24 duets and 4 solos with piano accompaniment means students experience ensemble playing and solo performance from the start, rather than grinding through isolated exercises.

Purposeful and encouraging. Each page builds incrementally, introducing one or two new concepts before asking the student to apply them in an actual musical context. The duets and solos feel like real music rather than exercises dressed up as songs.

Beginning trombone students working with a private teacher or in a group lesson setting. This method works well for students aged 10 and up who are ready to commit to daily practice and want structure that spans from first notes through early intermediate repertoire.

• Record yourself playing the duets and listen back as an audience member. You'll catch rhythmic rushes and intonation issues your ear might miss while you're concentrating on hand position.
• Use the rock-style accompaniment to explore how the same melodic material sits differently across musical styles. It's a concrete way to show students that technique serves musicality, not the other way around.
• Start with the piano accompaniment pieces at a comfortable tempo. There's no rule that says you must match the printed tempo marking; building confidence matters more than hitting a speed goal early on.

This is your foundation text for the first 1.5 to 2 years of trombone study. The duets double as perfect reading material when you're pairing a beginner with an intermediate student, and the solos with piano give your youngest players their first experience performing with accompaniment before they're ready for full ensemble.

• Position changes on trombone and control of slide movement
• Reading bass clef with accuracy and consistency
• Breath support and sustainable tone production
• Rhythmic precision and counting in multiple meters
• Ensemble intonation and blend through duet work
• Musical phrasing and expression within beginner-level material