My Self Improvement

Here’s a great starter book: “Best In Class: Comprehensive Band Method. Book 1-Trombone” by Bruce Pearson.

This book got me through a semester of brass instrument performance requirement in college (part of a music composition degree). It’s got all the positions and lots of basic tunes.

Honestly, the best book you can use is going to be the phone book - look up “music teachers”. Even if you only take a couple of lessons to get you started, you’ll save yourself months of effort, both now, and a few years down the road when you have to re-learn all your technique because you’ve learned it wrong!

Do you have any musical background? If you do (i.e. piano, another instrument, etc.) it’s easier. If you’re starting at the very beginning, however, like the other person said, a few lessons would help.

The best beginning “band” method book (I think) is Essential Elements 2000. Go ahead and get book 1 along with the practice CD. That will get you started.

You don’t say how old you are, but if you are older and have some music background, the best overall trombone book that I like to use is called either (I forget) “The Trombone Virtuoso” or “The Virtuoso Trombone” by Simone Mantia. I think it’s out of print now, however… It starts slowly, but packs a whalop in just a few pages. Awesome text.

Good luck. Trombone is a great instrument…

without a doubt the Arban book (the brass player’s bible). I’m self-taught and I’ve been told I did a pretty good job. Good luck!!