Vol. 1, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1972)

Some In's and Out's of Breathing
by Lewis Van Haney

Discusses some general thoughts on breathing problems, solutions and the use of air.

Vol. 2, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1973)

Random Thoughts on the Trombone
by Jay Friedman

A discussion of various performance aspects including breathing, vibrato, legato, sound, high register, tonguing, auditions, and public performance.

Vol. 2, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1973)

The Double Valve Bass Trombone
by Alan Raph

Ideas on bass trombone technique. Includes excerpt from his "Method" published in 1969 by Carl Fischer and a brief biography of Raph.

Vol. 2, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1973)

The Better Half
by Harold Nash

A discussion of the use and development of positions four through seven.

Vol. 2, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1973)

Communicating Trombone Skills
by John Upchurch

A discussion of terminology used by the trombone teacher in communicating performance concepts to students.

Vol. 3, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1975)

Opinions
by Allen Ostrander

Thoughts on what every trombonist should be taught as fundamental performance behavior.

Vol. 3, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1975)

A Review of Legato as a Means to an End
by Mildred Kemp

A look at how development of legato playing can help overcome technical weakness and improve overall musicianship.

Vol. 4, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1976)

Thoughts of a Mother
by Bruce Fowler

Thoughts on expanding a trombonist's performance technique and musical thinking.

Vol. 4, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1976)

Indeterminate Instrumentation: A Way of Extending Instrumental Techniques
by James Fulkerson

Suggestions for performance of 20th-century music. Includes a list of works that are not written for trombone, but could be performed on trombone.

Vol. 4, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1976)

Workshop Notes on Trombone
by Ernest E. Lyon

Thoughts on several aspects of trombone performance, including posture, tonguing, breathing, embouchure, slide technique, legato, and vibrato, among others

Vol. 5, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1977)

Trombone Basics
by Ralph Sauer

Personal thoughts on various performance aspects, including breathing, legato, high register, equipment, sound, and performance anxiety.

Vol. 6, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1978)

Some Thoughts on Trombone Tuning
by Charles Dalkert

Practice suggestions and exercises for improving intonation. Focuses on improving half-step distinction.

Vol. 6, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1978)

Trombone Slide Position Equivalence Tables
by Stuart-Morgan Vance

Tables that show "The amount of slide extension for the positions on trombones of different sizes in terms of what position that extension would be on the B-flat tenor trombone."

Vol. 6, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1978)

Thoughts About Trombone Technique
by Miff Mole

Suggestions for developing the upper register. Reprinted from 1940.

Vol. 7, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1979)

Materials Selected to Assist a Bass Trombonist in Developing Playing Facility Utilizing the Valve Range
by M. Dee Stewart

A description of two method books -Ostrander's "The F Attachment and Bass Trombone" and LaFosse's "Grande Methode". Also includes a discussion on the valve range of the bass trombone.

Vol. 8, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1980)

Materials Selected to Assist a Bass Trombonist in Developing Playing Facility Utilizing the Valve Range
by M. Dee Stewart

A development sequence of bass trombone valve techniques. Includes musical examples from the orchestral literature.

Vol. 8, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1980)

The Alto Trombone - Its Uses, Problems, and Solutions
by Donald Appert

Descriptions of use and practical solutions to commonly encountered problems on the alto trombone.

Vol. 9, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1981)

The Breathing Process
by Peter Jackson

A mechanical description of the breathing process. Includes several illustrations and bibliography.

Vol. 9, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1981)

Quarter-Tone Scale, Twenty-Four Note Octave
by Earl Schreiber

A discussion of the quarter-tone scale as it relates to slide positioning.

Vol. 9, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1981)

Developing the High Register on Trombone
by Donald Appert

A look at a simple and practical approach to developing the trombonist's upper register.

Vol. 10, Issue 4 (Fall/October 1982)

A Practice Sheet for Trombone Students
by John Schooley

Ideas for the use of a detailed written plan for each practice session.

Vol. 10, Issue 4 (Fall/October 1982)

A Trombone Master Class with Dean Werner
by Buddy Himes

A description of the events at a master class with Werner, principal trombonist of the New Orleans Symphony.

Vol. 11, Issue 2 (Spring/April 1983)

How Long is B-flat?
by Neill Humfeld

Discusses the use of visual distance cues to improve sound projection and tone quality.

Vol. 11, Issue 2 (Spring/April 1983)

Low Brass Master Class at Peabody Conservatory
by David Bugli

A description of master class with the trombone section of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and tubist David Bragunier; includes list of tenor and bass trombone excerpts for orchestra auditions.

Vol. 12, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1984)

A Trombone Master Class with Keig E Garvin
by Buddy Himes

A description of events and topics covered during a master class with Garvin, solo trombonist for the US Army Band.

Vol. 12, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1984)

Differing Slide Movement in Legato and Staccato Articulation
by Robert Reifsnyder

Review of the descriptions of slide movement in trombone related texts.

Vol. 12, Issue 2 (Spring/April 1984)

Slide Technique - Some Basic Concepts
by Vern Kagarice

A description of slide movement and suggestions for improving slide technique.

Vol. 12, Issue 2 (Spring/April 1984)

The Joy of Trombone
by John Marcellus

An amusing response to questions about the mechanics of trombone playing.

Vol. 13, Issue 3 (Summer/July 1985)

The Fundamental and Essential Principles of Trombone Performance Technique: Their Teaching and Application
by William Cramer

A reprint from the Brass Bulletin discussing areas of trombone technique and how to address these issues.

Vol. 14, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1986)

Trombone Pedagogy
by Robert Reifsnyder

A response from Doug Yeo and Eric Carlson to an earlier article by Reifsnyder, "Career Patterns of Professional Trombonists". Includes Reifsnyder's response, and a complete list of participants in the survey.

Vol. 14, Issue 3 (Summer/July 1986)

The Tape Recording: Gateway to the College Studio Teaching Position
by Richard Powell

Suggestions for types of works to include on an audition tape.

Vol. 14, Issue 3 (Summer/July 1986)

John Coffey's Approach to Teaching the Trombone
by Donald Appert

Suggestions for improving trombone playing.

Vol. 15, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1987)

The Electronic Tuner: A New Practice Tool for Trombonists
by David Fetter

Advantages and disadvantages to using an electronic tuner during practice.

Vol. 15, Issue 4 (Fall/October 1987)

Mouth Pressures in Trombone Players
by Peter Vivona

The results of study investigating oral cavity pressures at different pitch and dynamic levels during performance.

Vol. 16, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1988)

A Tonal Approach to the Trombone Slide Positions
by Michael Stroeher

Ideas for choices and use of alternate positions.

Vol. 17, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1989)

Concepts of Brass Embouchure Development
by John Swallow

Ideas on creating a successful embouchure for all brass players. Reprinted from the August 1987 volume of the Instrumentalist.

Vol. 17, Issue 2 (Spring/April 1989)

The Young Trombonist, Part II: Establishing the Private Lesson Procedure
by Mark Hartman

A discussion with Bill Harris, Gail Wilson, Jeanne Williams, and Buddy Baker.

Vol. 20, Issue 2 (Spring/April 1992)

A Practical Aid to a Beautiful Sound
by Denis Wick

Suggestions for improving sound by using a practice mute.

Vol. 20, Issue 4 (Fall/October 1992)

Thoughts to Ponder
by Edward Kleinhammer

Suggestions for improving breath control.

Vol. 21, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1993)

A Brief History of Trombone Teaching in Belarus
by Rostislav Lagonda

A brief history of trombone teaching in Belarus.

Vol. 21, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1993)

Undergraduate Trombone Teaching Survey
by Mark Hartman

The results of a survey of 84 institutions about different aspects of college-level trombone teaching

Vol. 22, Issue 3 (Summer/July 1994)

So Why Do I Need My Nose To Breathe Through My Mouth?
by Antonio Garcia

The anatomy of the nose and description of the use of the nose in the breathing process. Includes a visual diagram,

Vol. 23, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1995)

An Interview with Tom Ervin
by Richard Obregon

An interview with Ervin discussing selected aspects of his playing and "routine".

Vol. 24, Issue 4 (Fall/October 1996)

Babes in Slideland
by Lee Hill Kavanaugh

Ideas on teaching young children to play trombone.

Vol. 25, Issue 2 (Spring/April 1997)

The Doctrine of Intent
by Lawrence Borden

Thoughts on performance aspects and communicating with the audience

Vol. 25, Issue 3 (Summer/July 1997)

Opening Another "Can of Worms"
by Michael Keener

Information on intonation in different areas.

Vol. 25, Issue 3 (Summer/July 1997)

ETW '97: Cherry Blossoms And Trombones
by Michael Parnell

A summary of the events at the 1997 Eastern Trombone Workshop. Includes a review of several performances by the artists and chamber groups.

Vol. 25, Issue 4 (Fall/October 1997)

How Can I Say It Clearer? Just How Do You GO About Getting That Great Sound?
by Jay Friedman

Advice on various aspects of performance. Includes thoughts on Bolero.

Vol. 26, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1998)

A Survey of Modern Jazz Improvisation Techniques as Applied to the Trombone
by Edward J Ulman

A survey of old and new ideas for improvisation techniques in modern jazz.

Vol. 27, Issue 1 (Winter/January 1999)

From Artisan to Artist: The Soloist Becomes the Student
by Randall Scott Ruback

Personal thoughts on learning, performing, and teaching.

Vol. 27, Issue 2 (Spring/April 1999)

Improving Attachment Intonation, Tone Quality, & Attack Response
by BP Leonard

A look at possible causes and solutions for stuffiness, attack problems, and intonation issues while using the F attachment.

Vol. 27, Issue 3 (Summer/July 1999)

The Art of Wa
by Alan Kaplan

Advice for successful use of the plunger. Specific advice for use of the plunger in cartoon playing.

Vol. 27, Issue 4 (Fall/October 1999)

Thoughts to Ponder: What Are They Doing to His Music? Arthur Pryor, An Endangered American Legacy
by James Erdman

Advice for keeping the style of the era when performing Pryor solos. Discusses the lack of musical research before performing Pryor literature.

Vol. 29, Issue 1 (Winter/January 2001)

Thoughts to Ponder - Jazz vs. Classical Revisited: Our Differences are Actually Similarities
by James Kazik

Thoughts on the similarities of Jazz and Classical playing. Includes an opposition to the current focus of differences between the two styles.

Vol. 29, Issue 3 (Summer/July 2001)

A Road to the Top: Two Simple Exercises for Range Development and Maintenance
by Ryan Haines

A discussion of two "add-on" exercises to a daily routine to help build and maintain a secure high register. Exercises are taken from Roy Main's book "Original and Edited Warm-Ups and Exercises"

Vol. 30, Issue 1 (Winter/January 2002)

Current Practice Strategy Among Professional Trombonists: Results of a Survey  [Read]
by James Roberts

The results of a survey done at the International Trombone Festival in May of 2001. The questionnaire was given to leading American trombonists and included practice strategy suggestions in 22 areas including: Warm-up, Endurance, Goal setting, Mouthpiece buzzing, and others.

Vol. 30, Issue 2 (Spring/April 2002)

Beyond Bordogni - A Survey of College Level Etude Books  [Read]
by Brad Edwards

The results of surveying 161 college-level trombone teachers inquiring as to which etude books are used the most. Includes results for tenor and bass trombone.

Vol. 31, Issue 4 (Fall/October 2003)

On Connecting the Ear and Brass Performance
by John Schlabach

Vol. 32, Issue 2 (Spring/April 2004)

Stylistic Roots through both Ends of the Looking Glass
by Carl Lenthe

Vol. 35, Issue 1 (Winter/January 2007)

Alto Trombone Pedagogical Materials  [Read]
by Will Kimball & Joseph Hansen

A display of available alto trombone materials

Vol. 35, Issue 2 (Spring/April 2007)

Motivating Students: Twenty-One Techniques for Teachers  [Read]
by Donn Schaefer

Vol. 36, Issue 2 (April/Spring 2008)

Meeting at a crossroads: Trombone pedagogy
and psychological theories of learning  [Read]
by Peter Miksza