If you’re looking for the best beginner trombone books to help you get started, look no further. We’ve put together a list of the ten best trombone books for beginners, each with its own unique approach to learning this fascinating instrument.
Whether you’re just starting out or are looking to improve your skills, there’s something here for everyone. So, with that in mind. Let’s get started.
Quick Answer: The Best Beginner Trombone Books
Best Rated Trombone Books for Beginner Reviews
When you’re starting out on any musical instrument, the best place to start is with some quality instruction books. For trombone players, there are a number of great books that can help you get started on the right path. We’ve reviewed some of our favorite ones below to help you narrow down your choice and pick the best ones.
1. Essential Elements for Band – Trombone
- Each Book Includes My EE Library
- Start-up Video learn the basics
- Play-along mp3 features a professional player on your instrument
Taking our top spot for the best trombone books for beginners is Essential Elements for Trombone Book 1, an exceptional learning book by every metric imaginable.
This trombone book appreciates the unique needs of every type of beginner trombonist. Its in-depth chapter reviews address different learning styles, providing vibrant diagrams and legible text blocks perfect for younger students.
You also get access to an incredible online resources library, full of helpful tips, lessons, reviews, and more.
Essential Elements for Band – Trombone Book 1 is the best book we can recommend that addresses the needs of a diverse range of students.
2. Standard of Excellence for Trombone
- Standard Of Excellence Book 1 Enhanced Trombone
- The Standard of Excellence ENHANCED Comprehensive Band Method Books 1 & 2 combines a strong performance-centered approach with music theory, music...
- Each book comes with two CDs containing all the full band accompaniments and the revolutionary iPAS Practice and Assessment Software
Our runner-up pick for the best trombone book for beginners is the Pw21TB – Standard of Excellence Enhanced Book 1 – Trombone.
If you’re looking for a book that dives deep into the art of trombone improvisation, then you’re definitely going to want to pick this one up. It’s filled with in-depth knowledge derived from the writers’ years of combined experience playing the trombone in a variety of settings.
In addition to the book, you’ll get a package of flashcards, e-learning passes, and even a full-functioning recording studio and tuner, all online and easy to access!
Overall, definitely one of the best trombone learning packages on the market.
3. Rubank Elementary Method for Trombone
- cf-type-band-instrument-method-book, cf-vendor-rubank, reverbsync-shipping-profile:Standard Ground Less than 39.99, Tag_Trombone
- English (Publication Language)
- 52 Pages - 04/01/1989 (Publication Date) - Rubank Publications (Publisher)
Rounding off our top three picks for the best trombone books for beginners is Rubank Elementary Method – Trombone. In addition to the second book in the series for intermediate learning, this trombone book is a top choice for playing in a group setting.
Contained in the 52 pages is a diverse and comprehensive approach to scales, arpeggios, technical skills, and more. The writers’ experience teaching a wide range of students is reflected in these easy-to-read modules that flow nicely from one subject to the next.
If you have a little learner who needs to learn how to play nice with others, this is a great book to get them started.
4. Accent on Achievement: Trombone
- Accent on Achievement Book 1 Trombone Book & CD
- Accent on Achievement is a revolutionary, best-selling band method that will excite and stimulate your students through full-color pages and the most...
- The comprehensive review cycle in books 1 & 2 will ensure that students remember what they learn and progress quickly
Coming into our fourth spot is Accent on Achievement, Book 1: Trombone, another great book for classroom learning or independent tutoring.
The Accent on Achievement book series is very popular with many music teachers, recommending it to students from a wider age group than targeted by some competitors. Its sections are readable and engaging, even at lower reading levels!
It’s a bit cheaper than other books as well, making it a great book to supplement with more specialized learning materials. Pick this one up along with something specializing in solos or improvisation for a comprehensive learning experience.
5. Sound Innovations for Concert Band: Trombone
- Sound Innovations for Concert Band Book 1 Trombone Book CD/ DVD
- Sound Innovations for Concert Band is a revolutionary new method for beginning musicians that combines time-tested educational concepts, input from...
- Using solid pedagogy that follows state and national music education standards, the methods is written by Robert Sheldon, Peter Boonshaft, Dave Black,...
Another great budget pick, Sound Innovations for Concert Band, Bk 1: Trombone takes our fifth spot in the ranking.
Sound Innovations combines tried and true teaching methods with progressive input from teachers and innovations in modern technology, taking a flexible approach to learning.
However, the book still follows a logical order, starting with the absolute basics and working its way to more advanced concepts. Everything from arpeggios to solos and duets is covered in its pages, all in an accessible, uncomplicated way!
Compared with similarly priced books, you won’t find one that takes a more varied approach to your child’s learning.
6. 101 Popular Songs: for Trombone
One of our top picks for supplemental learning, 101 Popular Songs: for Trombone is filled with songs that you and your child will love!
Learn to play some of the most popular songs from today and yesterday across a variety of genres, all on trombone! Songs like “Dust in the Wind,” “Living on a Prayer,” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” are all super easy to learn with this trombone book for beginners.
While this isn’t the best choice if you want to learn trombone from scratch, we highly recommend it for use in addition to basic skills books like those above.
7. Arban Method For Trombone and Baritone
- Item Number: O23X
- Instrumentation: Trombone, Baritone
- Publisher: Carl Fischer LLC (#O000023X)
The 023X – Arban Method for Trombone and Baritone is our pick for the seventh-best trombone book for beginners. It features a tried-and-true teaching trombone first laid out in the early 19th century by the author and famed virtuoso Jean Baptiste Arban.
Don’t think that this book is stuck in the past, though. All sections have been continually updated throughout the years, keeping in tune with the times. However, Arban’s core method remains the same, and it’s what’s made this book such a popular teaching tool over the decades.
If you want to try out classical trombone learning methods, we’d definitely recommend the 023X – Arban Method for Trombone and Baritone as part of your collection.
8. The Very Best of John Williams: Trombone
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 11/01/2004 (Publication Date) - Alfred Music (Publisher)
Ever wanted to play some of the legendary catalog of composer John Williams? If you’re a trombonist and a Star Wars or Jurassic Park fan, you need to pick up The Very Best of John Williams: Trombone.
While this book isn’t a good starting point for beginner trombonists, it’s a great stepping stone once you or your child is ready to move on to intermediate studies.
It’s also a fantastic motivational book if you are a beginner. Get better with some of the books above, then move up to the stuff you really want to play: The Jurassic Park theme!
9. The Real Book for Beginning Elementary Band Students (Trombone)
- Newman, Mr. Larry E. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 68 Pages - 02/15/2012 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
The Real Book for Beginning Elementary Band Students is an excellent budget option for beginner trombonists.
Included with this book for beginner trombonists are 70 famous songs using only six notes. Super easy for you to start playing as soon as you pick up the book!
Plus, you can even download this book to your Kindle. No need to worry if your child loses it on their way back from school!
Overall, The Real Book for Beginning Elementary Band Students is a solid option if you want a good pool of songs to pull from as you improve your skills.
10. Best Beginning Trombone Book for Kids
- Newman, Mr. Larry E. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 102 Pages - 12/02/2020 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
Another great budget trombone book, Best Beginning Trombone Book for Kids, has a fun and engaging appeal that’s perfect for very young learners.
Compared to some of its competitors, Best Beginning Trombone Book for Kids is packed to the brim with useful information. This book has it all, from arpeggios and scales to solos, duets, and even trios!
If you have a child from the ages of five to nine learning the trombone, the Best Beginning Trombone Book for Kids is one of the better options on the market.
However, unlike other books, it’s important to note that this one doesn’t have any downloadable versions for your Kindle or laptop.
Conclusion: Which one Should You Buy
That wraps up our list of the best trombone books for beginners! Whether you’re a parent searching for the perfect book for your child, or an adult learner looking for something engaging and fun, there’s something for everyone!
While we totally recommend picking up a few books to round out your learning experience, our top pick has to be Essential Elements for Band – Trombone 1. Its in-depth learning philosophy and comprehensive lesson structure make it the best bang for your buck.
Check out our list of intermediate books for trombone when you’re ready to take your playing to the next level!
- Each Book Includes My EE Library
- Start-up Video learn the basics
- Play-along mp3 features a professional player on your instrument
