Unique Instruments: All About the Trombone

The trombone is a brass musical instrument, played by blowing air through the mouthpiece and sliding a metal piping along the length of its body. The trombone first came into use in the 15^th century throughout Europe and gained even more popularity by the 1800s. The nature of the trombone makes it more commonly used in a group setting as opposed to a solo instrument, and even in its early days it was used in concerts and orchestras. While it was originally played for religious musical ceremonies, trombones were later introduced in war-time brass and drum ensembles around the time of WWI. Many classical musicians experimented with trombones, including composing solo pieces for it. During the 20^th century, jazz musicians embraced the sound of the trombone wholeheartedly and it became a quintessential sound in jazz.

Ensembles

• Berlin Philharmonic Brass Ensemble – Created in the 1950s, this brass ensemble specializes in baroque, classical and jazz.
• Bones Apart – Female trombone quartet from England.
• I Tromboni – Canadian brass quintet performing Renaissance pieces as well as classical, jazz and contemporary styles.
• Los Angeles Philharmonic – Classical symphony orchestra featuring a brass section.
• South Bay Trombone Choir – San Francisco community brass group performing pieces ranging from children’s music to ragtime and polka.
• Boston Symphony Orchestra – One of the largest American orchestras, created in 1881.
• Toronto Symphony Orchestra – A long-running Canadian group with a focus on classical music.
• The Dirty Dozen – New Orleans jazz brass band.
• Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester – Swedish orchestra broadcasting concerts on Sweden’s Radio-P2 station.
• Trombone4 – Trombone quartet from France.

Equipment Specifications

• Trombone for Beginners – Article explaining the parts of a trombone.
• Equipment Recommendations – Suggestions of equipment sizes by music level.
• Features – Detailed listing of features of different trombone brands.
• Choosing a Trombone – Article on how to choose the right trombone.
• Reviews – Reviews of Bach Stradivarius trombones by a professional trombonist.
• Mouthpieces – Four-part article on choosing the best mouthpiece.
• Mutes – Reviews of numerous trombone mute brands.
• Discontinued Models – Information on discontinued trombones from various manufacturers.
• Trombone Maintenance – Cleaning and maintaining a trombone.
• Equipment for Students – Advice on choosing equipment from a trombone teacher.

Professional Trombonists

• Christian Lindberg – Swedish trombonist, composer and conductor.
• Toby Oft – Principal trombonist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
• Dave Taylor – Bass trombone soloist and recording artist.
• Joseph Alessi – Principal trombonist for the New York Philharmonic and soloist.
• Bill Watrous – Celebrated jazz bop trombonist in Los Angeles.
• Abbie Conant – Highly experienced soloist and now President Elect of the International Trombone Association.
• Ian Bousfield – Trombonist in some of the top orchestras worldwide and Professor of Trombone at London’s Royal Academy of Music.
• Conrad Herwig – New York jazz recording artist and highly sought-after trombone instructor.
• Frank Rosolino – Biography of the late jazz master.
• Glenn Miller – Famous U.S. jazz trombonist, composer and bandleader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

How to Play the Trombone

• Range Extension – U.S. Army Band’s tips to improve range extension.
• Learning Resources – Series of links on trombone tutorials and exercises.
• Playing in Tune – Ear training and tuning.
• Mastering Legato – Explanation of one of the hardest techniques.
• Trombone Tips – Selection of tips and video tutorial.
• Worksheets – Selection of resources including worksheets, handouts and charts.
• Composing – Tips for composing trombone pieces.
• Trombone Playing – Compendium of articles on how to play trombone.
• Practicing – Selection of valuable practice tips from a trombone instructor.
• Trombone Writing & Playing – Video demonstrations for different aspects of trombone.

Other Brass Instruments

• Intro to Brass Instruments – Explanations on different types of brass musical instruments.
• How They Work – Very detailed article on how brass instruments function.
• Comparisons – Comparing different brass instruments.
• French Horn – Information on the French horn with resonance data.
• Trumpet – History of the Trumpet.