Putting a trombone together looks like a tough task for those who’ve never done it before, but after a couple of times doing it, it’s quite easy. In this post, I’ll go the steps I and many other music teachers have used for years to teach people how to set up a trombone. Let’s dive in! Steps For How To Set Up A Trombone #1 Put The Case On Stable Ground Or Surface Take your case and lay it flat on the ground or a table that doesn’t move. You’d feel terrible if you opened the case to let the trombone drop on the ground! Often, the label faces up when opening the case. #2 Open The Case And Remov ..read more

This is a guest post from the amazing Jane Cavanagh! At rehearsal last week, the conductor of a Sydney-based band I play the flute in, excitedly informed me, “Hey Jane, I arranged a new piece for the band and I wrote you a fantastic jazz flute solo!” I thought “oh no, here we go…” as I am a classically trained flute player, not a swinging, improvising jazz musician! The thought of performing this solo seemed like an embarrassment waiting to happen! Preparing for embarrassment For me to say that I’m not confident in my ability to sound “cool” when I swing on the flute is an understatement. I fi ..read more

This is a guest post by VEEPN. Are you looking for the top YouTube channels for piano enthusiasts? Look no further! With so many options, figuring out which channels are truly worth your time can be overwhelming. But have no fear, we’ve done the research for you. Check out our list of great piano bloggers to subscribe to. They post featuring covers, tutorials, and original compositions. Get ready to take your piano skills to the next level with these best piano bloggers. #1 Alim Beisembayev Discover the remarkable journey of Alim Beisembayev, the first-ever Kazakhstani winner of the Leeds Inte ..read more

We just had a week of 90-degree weather up here in Michigan (followed shortly by a week of 30-degree weather, but still…), which means that summer is approaching!  Up here, one of our greatest pastimes is to get out on a boat, whether it be on one of our many rivers, bays, or lakes.  While enjoying the waves and rays, we need some jams to enhance our time, right?  Enter this list of the best boat songs to help you enjoy the water even more!  I’ll go into detail on my top 20 picks and then offer dozens of more ideas past that.  #1 “Sailing” by Christopher Cross (Pop ..read more

Other brass instruments can survive when their slides are stuck, but this is a panic situation for the trombone!  We need our slides to move to even change our pitches!  Proper care and cleaning are essential.  Fortunately, I’m here to help with guidance on how to clean a trombone slide.  I used my own experience and talked with trombone pros about what they do and use to come up with this guide.  Let’s dive in!  Disclosure: Items linked to this article may be affiliate in nature, which means we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you click and buy ..read more

I’m a nerd, for many reasons, as my wife will happily tell you. One of those reasons is how I love to dig into curriculum planning in my music classes. This front-loading will definitely pay off in the long run by making your lessons more intentional, engaging, and inspirational! But to do this, one of the places you need to start is with the elementary music scope and sequence. This isn’t my first rodeo, and I know a lot of people who develop their own. Today, I wanted to take a look at some different ideas to help inspire you in your music making. The “Ideal” Elementary Music Scope And Seque ..read more

When shopping for trombones, you need to be careful!  A trombone is an investment, and there are quite a few junky ones out there. I’d hate for you to spend a lot of money on something that’ll never sound great!  But by sticking with respected trombone brands, you can rest easy!  I used my own experience and (better yet) spoke with my band director and trombone friends to compile this list of the most trusted trombone brands.  Disclosure: Links in the article may be affiliate in nature, meaning we get a small commission if you click and buy at no extra cost to you. Thanks f ..read more

A singer who wants to really captivate an audience and deliver an impressive performance must have a strong and flexible vocal range. And developing your upper range is just as important as developing your lower range since you don’t want to be limited to singing and perfecting just the low notes. You have to be able to express yourself freely and give the audience what they want. But to have that vocal flexibility, you have to learn how to expand your voice through vocal warm-ups and exercises while keeping it healthy. So how does one go about developing a powerful upper range? let’s check it ..read more

Change doesn’t come around easy, whether it’s personal change or lasting change in the world.  But throughout history, every instance of momentous change will find music to motivate people.  With this in mind, I compiled a list of my favorite songs to inspire change.  I’ll go over my top 20 in detail with videos and share many more besides! Enjoy!  #1 “Imagine” by John Lennon “Imagine” by John Lennon is a timeless anthem that inspires change by envisioning a world without barriers of religion, nationality, and possessions. Its lyrics call for unity, peace, and empathy, enc ..read more

The bass trombone, a brass instrument known for its rich and powerful sound, offers a wide range of musical possibilities.  Understanding and mastering the bass trombone’s range is essential for players to fully express themselves and excel in various musical genres.  In this article, we will explore the different aspects of the bass trombone range, including its low and high registers, techniques for playing in different ranges, and its musical applications.  Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, this article will provide valuable insights and practical tips to he ..read more