ABRSM Trombone books for Practical and Performance Grades

Start with two checks: your grade and whether you are taking a Practical Grade or Performance Grade. For most customers, the quickest route is to open Syllabus Finder, confirm your level, then shop the Trombone collection.

For Trombone, your main buying choice is usually the right repertoire source for your level, then the matching technical books in the correct clef if you are taking the Practical route.

For Grades 1–5, most customers start with a grade-appropriate repertoire book such as Shining Brass, Book 1 or the relevant Time Pieces for Trombone volume, then add Scales and Arpeggios for Trombone (bass clef and treble clef), ABRSM Grades 1–5, from 2023, Sight-Reading for Trombone (bass clef and treble clef), ABRSM Grades 1–5, from 2023 and the correct Specimen Aural Tests book for the grade band.

For Grades 6–8, start with the repertoire source named for your grade in Syllabus Finder, then add Scales and Arpeggios for Trombone (bass clef and treble clef) and Bass Trombone, ABRSM Grades 6–8, from 2023 and Sight-Reading for Trombone (bass clef and treble clef) and Bass Trombone, ABRSM Grades 6–8, from 2023 if you are taking the Practical route.

For Performance Grades, your main purchase is the repertoire source plus any own-choice score you need.

Shining Brass is a strong starting point if you want a brass-focused repertoire book with matching accompaniment books. Time Pieces for Trombone is useful when you want extra graded repertoire and more stylistic variety.

Many customers buy the book named in Syllabus Finder first, then add the other as extra study and performance material.

For Practical Grades, yes. Your repertoire book covers the pieces, but most candidates also buy the matching Scales and Arpeggios and Sight-Reading books so they can prepare the full assessment.

For Performance Grades, no. You normally focus on repertoire plus any own-choice music you need.

If you are starting out, look for Trombone Prep Test 2017 for the first step, then move into the grade-appropriate Shining Brass or Time Pieces for Trombone book as you progress.

Many early-stage customers also add the grade 1–5 scales and sight-reading books straight away so they do not need to reorder later.

That depends on what you want to strengthen. Customers often add Jazz Trombone books for jazz-focused tunes, scales and aural work, Brass Mix for extra graded repertoire, or the matching Shining Brass piano accompaniment books if they want a more complete lesson and rehearsal set.

Quick path:

• Open Syllabus Finder and select instrument + grade
• Check the latest Brass guidance on ABRSM before you buy
• Buy route-matched titles in the Trombone collection