Mr. Mayo’s Resources

Starting Off External Videos

Considerations For Those Looking to Play The Trombone

  • The trombone can be a challenging instrument to play because it does not have keys; instead, it has a slide.  Students need have a good ear. 

  • The trombone requires students to have a decent length of their arm in order to reach some of the positions.  This is normally needed from the beginning.  If a student wishes to play the instrument, and they do not have length to their arm, they will need to start on an instrument with an F-attachment.

  • Students who have previous singing and/or piano experience usually do better at this instrument. 

  • The instrument tends to be pretty easy when starting off but is challenging to become good at.  Consistent practice habits are required to develop on this instrument. 

  • Tongue manipulation (flat vs. arched) is required to develop on this instrument. 

  • Ultimately, students who work hard, practice consistently, and are driven to better themselves will likely have the greatest success no matter the instrument.

 

Considerations When Buying A Trombone

  • Beginners most often start on the tenor trombone.

  • Beginner –Beginner instruments are designed to get a fundamental sound while being durable; this is so that the student can get used to handling the instrument.  They normally have a lacquer finish. They are mostly machine made and have a different metal composition than the upper models.  The mouthpiece size is usually small shank, as the bore size (wideness of tubing) is smaller than the upper level models. 

  • Intermediate – Intermediate instruments usually have a trigger known as an F attachment.  It allows for the key of the instrument to be changed; essentially, it allows musicians to be able to play many faster passages with greater ease because they do not have to move the slide as far when alternating between using the F-attachment and not using it.. Intermediate instruments usually have a wider bore (tubing size), higher quality of metal composition, are handmade in some areas, and are usually silver or gold plated.  The mouthpiece size is usually large shank, as the bore is larger.

  • Professional – Professional trombones are usually almost entirely hand made and usually have F-attachments.  They have a larger bore size, are made of high-quality brass, and are usually silver or gold plated.  They can have specific features, such as different bore sizes, finishes, valve types, and bells.  .  The mouthpiece size is usually large shank, as the bore is larger.

  • Simply put, as you progress from beginner to intermediate to advanced, the instruments are made of higher quality materials, progress from primarily being machine made to handmade, slightly larger bore size (tubing), better tuning from note to note, and better resonance.  Beginning instruments are built more to get a basic sound and stand through durability so that a musician can learn to take care of it.  Intermediate and advanced instruments are more focused on the sound of the instrument.

  • If you do not know what these differences are or know if they would be valuable to you, consult a professional. I am not claiming to be a professional, but you could contact me as well. A simple google search can also inform you of the basics. 

Bass Trombone

  • The bass trombone is larger than the tenor trombone both in physical appearance and bore size.  The instrument can play in the lower range, but also can usually play the same standard range as the tenor trombone..  It usually has two triggers allowing for a greater range. 

  • The instrument is widely used in upper high school, collegiate, and professional literature.

Other Trombones

  • The soprano trombone is a small trombone in the same range as the trumpet.  It is often also called the slide trumpet.  It is more commonly used in chamber music.

  • The alto trombone is most commonly pitched in Eb and is a little smaller than the traditional tenor trombone.  It is more commonly used in chamber music.

  • The contrabass trombone is usually pitched in F and is larger than the bass trombone.  Depending on the player, it can play lower than the standard piano.

  • The valve trombone has valves similar to that of a trumpet.  They can be built as a long instrument or a short instrument.  The instrument is popular in some part of Europe, South America, and India.

Recommended Mouthpieces

  • Always check your shank size before purchasing a mouthpiece.

  • Beginner – Bach 6 1/2AL; Yamaha 48

  • Intermediate/Advanced – Bach 5G; Yamaha 51C4; Schilke 51

Recommended Brand of Instrument

  • Yamaha

  • Shires

Recommended Listening

  • Joseph Alessi

  • Ian Bousfield

  • Dudley Bright

  • Eric Crees

  • Jay Friedman

  • Nitzan Haroz

  • Megumi Kanda

  • Charles Vernon – Bass Trombone

  • Aline Nitad

  • Mark Lawrence

  • Mark Hetzler

  • Abbie Conant

  • Eric Crees

  • Byron Fulcher

  • Christhard Gossling

  • Olaf Ott

  • Carol Jarvis

  • Jennifer Wharton

  • J.J. Johnson – Jazz

  • Glen Miller – Jazz

  • Tommy Dorsey – Jazz

  • Wycliffe Gordon - Jazz

 

Some Recommended Method/Technique/Etude/Collection Books

  • Rubank Elementary Method

  • The Rubank Intermediate Method

  • The Rubank Advanced Method

  • Voxman – Concert and Contest Collection

  • Voxman – Selected Studies

  • Arban – Complete Method

  • Rochut – Melodius Etudes

  • Vining – Daily Routines

  • Remington – Remington Warm-up Studies

  • Edwards – Lip Slurs

  • Cornette – Method for Trombone

  • Cimera – 170 Trombone Studies

  • Tyrell – 40 Progressive studies

  • Gay – Trombone Studies

  • Vernon – The Singing Trombone

  • Blume – 36 Studeis

  • Bozza – Treize Etudes Caprices

  • Blazevich – 30 Legato Studies

  • Fink – Studies in Legato

  • Mueller – Technical Studies

  • Kopprasch – Sixty Selected Studies

 

Horn Literature/Books

  • Kleinhammer - The Art of Trombone Playing

  • Johnson – Brass Performance and Pedagogy

  • Farkas – The Art of Brass Playing

  • Farkas – The Art of Musicianship

  • Gordon – Brass Playing is No Harder than Deep Breathing

  • Fox – Essentials in Brass Playing

Some Classical Solo Literature

  • Rimsky-Korsakov – Concerto

  • Jacob – Concerto

  • Albrechtsberger – Concerto

  • Handel – Concerto

  • Albinoni – Concerto

  • Wilder - Sonata

  • Barat – Andante et Allegro

  • Mozart – Concerto 

  • Rota – Concerto

  • Telemann – Sonata

  • Howarth – Concerto

  • Ropartz – Andante et Allegro

  • Williams - Concerto

  • Handel – Sonata 

  • Marcello – Sonatas

  • Hasse – Suite

  • Whear – Sonata

  • White – Sonata

  • Lebedev – Concerto

  • Gillingham - Sonata

  • Stevens – Sonatina

  • Weber – Romance

  • Hindemith – Sonate

  • George – Concerto – Bass Trombone

  • Sachse – Concertino – Bass Trombone

  • Spillman – Concerto – Bass Trombone

 

Recommended Stores For Instruments and Equipment

 

Recommended Websites

Recommended Apps

  • Bandmate Chromatic Tuner

  • Tonal Energy Tuner

  • Sight Reading Factory

  • Smart Music

  • Intunator

  • StaffWars

  • Tunable

  • Master Ear Training

  • Theory Lessons

  • Tenuto

  • APS Trainer

  • tuneUp

Must Have Accessories

  • Case

  • Cleaning Cloth/Swab

  • Rotor Oil

  • Slide Grease

  • Slide Cream

  • Tuner/Metronome - app or physical device

  • Music Stand

  • Pencil

Additional Possible Accessories

  • Breath Builder

  • Instrument Stand

  • Korg-TM 60 with clip on attachment

  • Berp

  • Mutes

  • Trombone Grip

YouTube Channels to Follow

Instagram Accounts to Follow

  • International Trombone Festival - @trombonefestival

  • Paul the Trombonist - @paulthetrombonist

  • Matt Jefferson - @matt.jefferson.trombone

  • Colby - @trombone_in_a_minute

  • Daniel Moretti - @dan_trombone

  • Sarah Goldberg - @sarahplaystrombone

  • Nick Halbig - @trombonevoyage

  • Jeremy Wilson - @jeremywilsontrombone

  • Matt Vaughn - @trombonmattyv

  • Darian Freeman - @darianfreemantrombone

  • Jared Trombone/Euphonium - @jaredlazmusic

  • @audreyplaystrombone

  • Canadian Brass - @canadianbrass