Review

Drummond Hudson
Let's Play Trombone Volume 3:
Trombone

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2019
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Method book. 76 pages.

Primary Genre: Study Material - method
Secondary Genre: Study Material - etude

The series of method books this volume comes from is most interesting, coming as it does from a Canadian trombonist with long experience teaching and performing with bands and orchestras. Without access to the other volumes in the series, I cannot discuss in detail some of the logic and motivations of the author, but I will focus on the material in the present volume. It consists of Lessons 39 to 50, and the logic of each lesson is similar.

I will take two lessons at random and discuss how they work. Lesson 39, the first lesson in this book, begins with scales, in this case B-flat major and G minor [harmonic and melodic]. Next comes a syncopation exercise followed by lip slurs, all in B-flat. Next there are double tonguing studies in G minor; B-flat legato melody; chromatic scales and tenor clef study in B-flat; false and pedal tones; two studies using 12 key signatures; ending with rapid tonguing exercises and legato playing in G minor. Things to note about this approach: keys remain consistent in each lesson; various technical topics are covered in a varied fashion; clefs are introduced and dealt with in a consistent manner; range is expanded, high and low, in a step by step fashion; wide intervals are practiced early in the study.

Taking another lesson further along in the book, I randomly pick Lesson 48. The keys in this lesson are F major and D minor. The first thing noticed is the extension of range to high c² and even high d². Further novelties include the introduction of octave exercises and doodle tonguing. Arpeggios get a good workout and there is a nice exercise in major sevenths and minor ninths.

This method seems well organized and designed to be useful with the phased introduction of technical topics and coverage of a variety of styles and materials, which should keep students interested and motivated. Were I to use this set of methods I would doubtless add other materials, especially in the use of melodic and legato work. Nevertheless, this is a good method.