I thought it would be fun to rank pedagogical books based on which have the most interesting concepts and how they are covered. I am curious about how other people would rank them. Here are some options, feel free to add more.
If the question is worded confusingly, another way to put it is if you could only ever use one of them, rank based on which you would take.
Brad Edwards Lip Slurs
Sam Burtis The American Trombone
Edward Kleinhammer's Art of the Trombone
Charlie Vernon A Singing Approach to the Trombone
J.B Arban Complete Method for Trombone and Euphonium
Brad Edwards Trombone Craft: A Musical Approach to Building Tone and Technique
Mantia The Trombone Virtuoso
Walter Beeler Method for Trombone
Trombone Book Ranking
- toneovertune
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Re: Trombone Book Ranking
Aha. The "desert island" trombone book competition!toneovertune wrote: ↑Fri Dec 13, 2024 3:05 pm ... if you could only ever use one of them, rank based on which you would take.

- tbdana
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Re: Trombone Book Ranking
If I could only have one to learn from I'd have to go with Arbans, even though that's my last preference, because it's the most complete in terms of content.
- BGuttman
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Re: Trombone Book Ranking
In place of Arban's I would suggest the LaFosse Methode Complete. It's got everything Arban's has plus clefs and some duets.
Bruce Guttman
Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra
"Almost Professional"
Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra
"Almost Professional"
- hyperbolica
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Re: Trombone Book Ranking
Yeah, I would second the LaFosse set, its huge and includes a lot of stuff even beyond Arbans.. Mantia is also very good for basic fundamentals. I don't think you can limit studies or practicing to just a single book. There are so many books that cover different areas of playing that were important growing up.
All Rochut
LaFosse Sight Reading and Style series
Snedecor
Blazhevich
Kopprasch
Kahila
Schlossberg
Bitsch Rhythmic Studies
Marsteller
Edwards
Bass bone-
Aharoni (non- classical)
Ostrander (bass bone fundamentals)
Edwards
Non-trombone
Top Tones for Trumpet
Bach Cello Suites
Galliard flute sonatas
Telemann flute suites
You also have to include jazz instruction of some sort some jazz etudes, transcribed solos, chord work, improv...
If i could really only pick one, it would be Arbans, Rochut or LaFosse
All Rochut
LaFosse Sight Reading and Style series
Snedecor
Blazhevich
Kopprasch
Kahila
Schlossberg
Bitsch Rhythmic Studies
Marsteller
Edwards
Bass bone-
Aharoni (non- classical)
Ostrander (bass bone fundamentals)
Edwards
Non-trombone
Top Tones for Trumpet
Bach Cello Suites
Galliard flute sonatas
Telemann flute suites
You also have to include jazz instruction of some sort some jazz etudes, transcribed solos, chord work, improv...
If i could really only pick one, it would be Arbans, Rochut or LaFosse
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Re: Trombone Book Ranking
Arban's is the best for all around practicing, if you can only have one, IMHO(H=humble) 
Thom
Yamaha YEP-321 Euphonium
6-1/2 AL mouthpiece
Yamaha YEP-321 Euphonium
6-1/2 AL mouthpiece
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Re: Trombone Book Ranking
Sam Burtis: Time, balance &connections
André Lafosse' méthode complète de trombone à coulisse (3 volumes)
Michael Lake: trombone improvisation savvy
Have ears on Christiane Bopp, French trombonist (my teacher); she plays with the Orchestre National de Jazz and Sylvaine Hélary's Orchestre Incandescent
Philippe Montagne
Tromboniste amateur
André Lafosse' méthode complète de trombone à coulisse (3 volumes)
Michael Lake: trombone improvisation savvy
Have ears on Christiane Bopp, French trombonist (my teacher); she plays with the Orchestre National de Jazz and Sylvaine Hélary's Orchestre Incandescent
Philippe Montagne
Tromboniste amateur
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Re: Trombone Book Ranking
Ah, but which one?
The original treble clef version is public domain. And if you're a digital user, you don't even need to print it.
But a trumpet teacher out there (Clint Mclaughlin) took the public domain version and rewrote it with greatly expanded range. The original doesn't go above high Bb, and that just doesn't cut it for a total solution. At one time that version was available free also, I'm not sure if it still is.