Review

Tom Brantley
Stylistic Etudes for Trombone: 20 original etudes in a variety of styles
Trombone

New York, New York, United States
Publisher: Carl Fischer
Date of Publication: 2018
URL: http://www.carlfischer.com

Etude book. 48 pages.

Primary Genre: Study Material - etude

Tom Brantley holds degrees in trombone performance/jazz studies from the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of North Texas. He is currently Professor of Trombone at the University of South Florida. He has extensive experience internationally as a performer, teacher and recording artist in a wide variety of musical styles. His first etude book, Student's Essential Studies for Trombone, was published in 2014. For that publication, Brantley served as editor and compiled the best of the existing Carl Fischer trombone etudes. Stylistic Etudes for Trombone, the second of two volumes is a set of twenty original etudes, composed by Brantley specifically for trombone students to use in developing a wide range of stylistic approaches to performance.

As the publisher wrote in describing these etudes: Stylistic Etudes for Trombone teaches different styles of music that players are likely to encounter as working musicians: from Classical, to Jazz, to Funk, to Blues. Modern-day professional trombonists are often expected to switch from one style to another, and these twenty original etudes will help players become comfortable with these diverse idioms.

Indeed there wide variety is exhibited in these etudes. Just a few of the titles: Blues, Symphonic March, Bolero Legato, Haydn Staccato, Bossa, Mozart Legato, Second Line Funk, Bartok and Hindemith, and New Orleans Swing. They range in duration from just over a minute (a la Rossini) to over six minutes (Ballad). They are meant for more advanced level performers, perhaps as an addendum or followup to the Blazhevich etudes. As an added bonus for students, Brantley has expertly recorded all the etudes. They are available from: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/tombrantley. As with other Carl Fischer publications the paper quality, artwork and printing are first rate. One quibble is that some of the etudes require page turns.