Things to do over the summer…

Here are some projects, techniques and tools that should keep you occupied!

Sight Read!

• Songs, etudes, solos

Play in public:

• Nursing homes

• Homes for the aged

• Churches

• Summer camps and festivals

• Street corners – parks – Malls

Make a video!

• Record and edit a video and post it to YouTube or Social Media

Play duets: 

• with other trombonists as well as non-trombonists

• with recordings

• with yourself on tape – in unison, octaves, or separate parts

Play with recordings:

• Tune-up CD

• Excerpt CD – single instrument or whole orchestra

• Trombone solo recordings

• Other instrument recordings

Play Bach chorales, duets, trios, hymns, excerpts by yourself! On the trombone!

• Arpeggiate down through the parts – balancing to the melody

• Arpeggiate up through the parts – balancing to the bass

• Record the melody and play the bass, etc.

Buzzing with…

• piano

• with music input into Finale or some other music editing software.

• with Band in a Box

• with Drones

• with fixed pitch recorded by you

• with music recorded by you

Play any music up the octave

• down the octave

• in tenor clef and alto clef – also up and down octaves

Transcribe anything and learn to play along with the recording

• Pop

• Classical

• Trombone or anything else 

Use Band in the Box or similar software/app 

• As a rhythm machine, i.e., nothing but drums

• Drums and bass

• Drums and full rhythm section Improvise rhythms on one pitch

• Improvise scale patterns with only drums

• Improvise scale patterns with full accompaniment

• Change styles and tempos for all of the above

• Do all of these things singing, buzzing and whistling

Play a phrase 5 times with a differing character each time

• Record and listen for your degree of success

• Do all of this in your head without even playing to get ideas

• Have someone suggest characterizations and try to satisfy them

Input music into Finale or other apps

• Make arrangements

• Compose a piece

• Compose exercises

• Input rhythmic etudes and solos and play along

• Transpose music to try it in different keys and ranges

Conduct through your music

• and click your fingers

• Sing along

• Buzz along

• Do it with a drum machine

• Do it with a metronome

Generate improvised solos on Band in a Box

• Play it on the computer and play along

• Edit them to make them more idiomatic for you and/or the trombone

• Edit them to gain better understanding of style

Cross Train

• Practice euphonium, alto and bass trombone

Explore online in search of new ideas

• Question your own ideas!