Trombone Lessons

Private and personalized trombone lessons in Edmonton.

Learn the trombone with a master teacher with over 40 years experience.

Benefits of Trombone Lessons

Affordable Prices

Online music lessons cost the same as in-person lessons, as they should, because they are as good or better as in-person lessons. The cost savings come in time, travel, and convenience. You don’t need to leave your home for online lessons.

Option to Record lessons

Recording your lessons is a strong approach. This is the format in which online lessons really excel. When you record your lesson to send to your teacher, your teacher can listen repeatedly (and even at slower speeds) to really analyze what you are doing, and she can research solutions and resources in a way that is not possible in the stricter time restraints of an in-person lesson. Similarly, when you get your recorded lesson from your teacher you can listen to it multiple times and really get the most value from it.

Save Time

Unless you live next door to your teacher, you will probably spend more time traveling to and from your in-person lesson and waiting for your turn outside your teacher’s studio door than you will in your lesson. That is time you could be spending enjoying your practicing! Online lessons are tremendous time savers.

Safe Environment

Thanks for being one fewer person on the road!

Trombone Lessons FAQs

Can you teach yourself trombone?

One of the world’s greatest trombone players was a man named Albert Mangelsdorff. He did things on the trombone that no one had ever thought possible. Albert was so talented that he taught himself to play the guitar well enough to play professionally as a teenager. He tells a story of hanging out with some of his older colleagues in those days and telling them he was interested in playing the trombone. He credits his success on the trombone to the good advice they gave him. They said, “if you want to play the guitar, just keep doing what you’re doing. If you want to play the trombone, get some lessons.”

Why would a gifted autodidact like Albert Mangelsdorff need lessons on the trombone but not on the guitar? Because you can see from the outside how a guitar is played whereas the technique of the trombone is invisible. We play the trombone with mostly automatic body systems – like respiration and speech – so it is not obvious how to progress and it is impossible to see in a YouTube video. Often even successful players have no idea what they are doing or how to help you get there. Good teaching makes things a lot easier.

Is playing the trombone difficult?

It is not obvious how to progress on any brass instrument and trombone players can use some extra help on how to use the slide effectively. It is very enjoyable and rewarding to learn to play the trombone when you have the right information, guidance, and resources – without that help, it can be frustrating.

How do you teach a beginner trombone?

Beginner trombone players start by learning how to develop their best possible sound. With some simple (but not obvious) instructions anyone can learn to make an authentic, professional sound on the trombone. Once that is established everything else flows in a very natural way. Even people who have struggled before may begin to suspect that they have talent.

Which is easier to play the trumpet or the trombone?

It doesn’t matter. All instruments have their unique strengths and weaknesses. You should play the instrument that you are most attracted to no matter how difficult it might be. With good music lessons you will learn to get the most out of what comes easily on your chosen instrument and to be particularly good at what is difficult.

What is the easiest brass instrument to play?

They all have their strengths and weaknesses, different things are hard and easy on different instruments. No instrument is easy to play well.

Testimonials from our Students

“I have studied trombone with Ken for a number of years as an adult student and have found him to be consistently friendly and supportive. Ken has made the learning experience enjoyable. He has tailored the lessons to accommodate my tastes and practice time constraints while ensuring that sequential and solid trombone techniques are explored. As an educator, he constantly brings new ideas about best practices into the lessons and shares new practice ideas. I have also seen big improvements in his younger students when they perform at masterclasses, both classical and jazz. These masterclasses provide numerous performance opportunities for us to play solos as well as collaborating with a pianist or small jazz combo. I have learned how to practice more efficiently and effectively and am able to better analyse my own playing. I have also become familiar with the professional scene and what it takes to move to that level if that is what you desire. It has been very rewarding to learn with Ken.”

"Ken's teaching has brought out the best in my son's playing and has instilled a love of learning and making music in him. He provides his students with motivation to excel in developing their skills and doing well on exams, but in a comfortable and positive environment that has fostered what I know will be a life long love of playing the trombone. Ken supports his students completely and ensures that his lessons align with the goals of each student, providing individualized instruction while giving many opportunities for his students to come together as musicians and experience a sense of community."

"Flowing through every lesson is the sense that Ken truly enjoys what he does, and he knows exactly how to pass that on to others."

"Ken, you have not just taught me music but you have taught me how to find learning opportunities in every perceived failure, how to focus, how to treat other people with the biggest heart, and so much more."