Learning objectives - Trombone

Trombones come in various sizes and types. The curriculum typically using the tenor trombone as the primary instrument. Students can start learning the trombone when they are physically able to play the instrument. It is most common for trombone learning to start around 9 to 10 years old.

More about learning the trombone

Level 1

Range: G – bes

All scales in one file

Scales

Range One octave
Tempo M.M = 88, scales played in quarter notes
Scales

(Choose two out of four)

B-flat major, A-flat major, G minor, Chromatic

(type of minor scale is optional)
Triads In all the above keys
Chromatic es – bes (optional)

Works and exercises

Piece William Tell, No. 88 from AoA Book I,

Finale from Orpheus, No. 84 from AoA Book I,

(or a similar piece)
Practice Exercise No. 2, page 42 from AoA Book I,

(or another similar exercise)
Option
  1. Improvise from a given start, chord sequence, or melody
  2. Play an original piece or own arrangement
  3. Play a short folk song or national song by ear

    Length should be about 8 bars

Sight reading Play a song from music you've not seen before
Study material
  • Finish page 24 from AoA Book I,
  • Nybörjarbok (Beginner’s Book)
  • Kul med trombone 1 (Fun with Trombone 1)
  • Midt i blinken 1 (Right on Beat 1)
  • Blåsbus 1 (Wind Instruments 1)
  • Spill 1 (Play 1)

Level 2

Range: G – c’

All scales in one file

Scales

Range One octave
Tempo M.M = 100, scales played in quarter notes
Scales B-flat major, A-flat major, C major, G minor, C minor, Chromatic

(type of minor scale is optional)
Triads In all the above keys
Chromatic c – c’

Works and exercises

Piece American Patrol page 34 in AoA, Book I,

Down By The Riverside in Nybörjarbok (Beginner’s Book)

(or a similar piece)
Practice Exercise No. 3 from 40 Progressive Studies by Hering

(or another similar exercise)
Option
  1. Improvise from a given start, chord sequence, or melody

    12 bar blues, 1x melody line (e.g., original), 1x solo

  2. Play an original piece or own arrangement

    Length should be about 12 – 16 bars, range wider than a fifth

  3. Play a short folk song or national song by ear

    Length should be about 12 – 16 bars, range wider than a fifth

Sight reading Play a song from music you've not seen before
Study material
  • Complete page 13 from AoA Book I,
  • Look Listen Learn
  • Vi spilar (We Play)
  • Sönglögin mín (My Songs)

Level 3

Range: F – es’

All scales in one file

Scales

Range One or two octaves, within the range
Tempo M.M = 56, scales played in eighth notes
Scales B-flat major, A-flat major, C major, E-flat major, G minor, C minor, D minor, F minor, Chromatic

(type of minor melodic)
Triads In all the above keys
Chromatic c – d’ with tongue

Works and exercises

Piece When Johnny Comes Marching Home page 32 from AoA Book II,

(See main curriculum for music schools, basic exam)
Practice Exercise No. 9 from 40 Progressive Studies by Hering

(or another similar exercise)
Option
  1. Improvise from a given start, chord sequence, or melody

    Criteria: 16 bars

  2. Play an original piece or own arrangement

    Length should be about 16 bars, range about an octave.

  3. Play a short folk song or national song by ear

    Length should be about 16 bars, range about an octave

Sight reading Play a song from music you've not seen before
Study material
  • Complete AoA Book II
  • Progressive Studies by Hering

Level 4

Range: F – f’

Basic exam

All scales in one file

Scales

Range One or two octaves, within the range
Tempo M.M = 60, scales played in eighth notes
Scales B-flat major, A-flat major, C major, E-flat major, F major, G minor, C minor, D minor, F minor, E minor, Chromatic

(type of minor melodic)
Triads In all the above keys
Chromatic F – f’’ with tongue

Works and exercises

Piece Teleman, Sonata in F (Second book of trombone solos),

The Young Prince by Harris

(see main curriculum for music schools, basic exam)
Practice Exercise no. 17/ 18 from 40 Progressive Studies by Hering

(or another similar exercise)
Option
  1. Improvise from a given start, chord sequence, or melody

    Criteria: 16 bars

  2. Play an original piece or own arrangement

    Length should be about 16 bars, range about an octave.

  3. Play a piece of your choice, of similar difficulty to other exam pieces
Sight reading Play a song from music you've not seen before
Study material
  • 40 Progressive Studies by Sigmund Hering
  • Major/Minor (Abersold)
  • Maiden Voyage (Abersold)
  • First Trombone Solos
  • Einar Scheving
  • Smart Music
  • Volume 1 (Abersold)