Trombone Micro Lesson Plan

Rachel Begleiter
April 7, 2014
Objective: Teach student the part of the instrument, posture and playing position, embouchure, and
care and maintenance

Procedure:
Case should lay flat on the floor
o Students opens case
Discuss parts of the trombone
o Bell
o Bell brace
o Tuning slide
o Mouthpiece
o Mouthpiece receiver
o Slide
o Slide lock
o Slide receiver
o Water key
o 1
st
and 2
nd
Brace
Assist student with putting the instrument together while discussing the parts
o Be clear about one single turn to the right for the mouthpiece
o The bell is screwed in and is set at a 90 angle
Show where the students fingers should be on the instrument
o The left hand holds the trombone by grasping the braces of the slide and bell
section. The thumb is around the brace of the bell section nearest to the
mouthpiece, and the lower three fingers are around the top brace of the slide
and the slide receiver. The left index finger rests on the shank just behind the
mouthpiece. The entire weight of the trombone rests on the left hand and arm.
The wrist must be straight, or tension will occur causing the hand to become
tired.
o Players should position their bodies so that right shoulder is in front of their left.
Correct posture if need
Practice proper embouchure:
o Lips trills
o Two fingers between lips- raspberries
o Practice on the mouthpiece
o Breath comes from the singers low breathing
o Incorporate full instrument with embouchure
Teaching slide positions:
o Start with 1
st
position (B flat)
Echo and playing rhythms
o Move on to 6
th
position (C)
o Echo and play
o Incorporate slide transition from 1
st
to 6
th
positions
o Then, 4
th
position
Echo and Play
Incorporate all three pitches
o Be conscious of students embouchure
Make theyre tonguing and not sliding the note
o Care and Maintenance:
o The slide must remain locked except when playing
o The case must remain on the floor and not on the lap, and it should
handle with care and always opened from the middle. Opening
from one end puts strain on the slide.
o Before playing, the student should make sure they have enough
room so that they dont hit any objects while moving the slide
o Water key
with bell off: breath into the mouthpiece to empty out
saliva from the slide
o Cleaning the slide is as follows: fill the slide with warm water, clean
the slide with a flexible wire cleaning brush and flush again with
water (dont use a cleaning rod), take apart the slide, outer slide
may be cleaned with a cleaning rod wrapped in cheesecloth, always
hold the side being cleaned, lubricate with oil or slide cream after
cleaning, wipe the inner slide in between cleanings, avoid working
the slides when dry.