What I’m Watching
Find out what prominent trombonists and educators are watching!
Explore favorite videos from Ben van Dijk, Natalie Mannix, Alex Iles, Brad Edwards, and Christine Purdue-Jones. You’ll discover new topics and get inspired—while learning more about the person behind the trombone.
Ben van Dijk – Bass trombone
ITA Past President, Retired Bass Trombone Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Conservatory of Amsterdam
1. Lara Fabian Adagio – (Live) From Lara With Love
For me the voice always has been my biggest inspiration for my trombone playing. Listening to Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Placido Domingo or my flamenco Hero el Camaron de la Isla were in the beginning of my career my guidance in sound, phrasing, intonation and timing. A few years ago I heard Lara Fabian for the first time and was absolutely flabbergasted by her singing. This interpretation of Albinoni’s famous Adagio shows all her vocal qualities optima forma. Total control, virtuoso, perfect intonation and super emotional, really telling the story. I love it.
2. VOCES8 performs ‘Lux Aeterna’ by Edward Elgar live at the Gresham Centre in London
Again the voice that gives me so much inspiration and listening joy. This a cappella version of the Lux Aeterna from Elgar’s Enigma variation is so wonderfully done. The way all the voices blend, the never disturbing breathing, their organic phrasing and scary intonation is something we also have to strive for in our instrumental ensemble playing
3. Warm up with Mr. Alessi
I’m so jealous about today’s trombone related resources you can find on YouTube. You can imagine this wasn’t available 45 years ago. My friend Joe Alessi has some absolute amazing youtube videos online with tips how he does it. I would say to all of you look them up and learn. Joe is not alone, also another giant player like Ian Bousfield offer an online method but there are many more videos online of all sort of trombone topics. At 62 I’m still learning so much from all these todays resources available on YouTube.
4. Tomatito y Paco de Lucía Mezclando ‘Corre Por Mis Venas’
Ok, this is something completely different but for me probably the most inspirational art form possible. Flamenco on the highest possible level. My biggest hobby next to my trombone is Flamenco and playing the Flamenco guitar is something I do on a daily base! What you see and hear in this video is a short fragment of the making of a unique clip for a cd track for a album by one of my guitar heroes Tomatito. El Camaron de la Isla ( Flamenco singer ) and Paco de Lucia ( Flamenco guitarist ) formed a legendary duo in the seventies and both became my absolute Musical heroes. When Paco became famous as soloist, Tomatito became the new guitarist of el Camaron and this combination was as successful as the earlier combi. El Camaron died way too early and in this clip you hear el Camaron sing with new added accompaniment of his 2 companions recorded several years after his death!Look this track up on Spotify and enjoy their passion, sense of rhythm, amazing interaction and musical purity. See those 2 giants enjoy listening to their lost friend. Too bad Paco de Lucia passed away a few years ago:-((
5. Trailer 21 trombones the 21th century
My first real interest for the trombone started after listening to the LP’s of Urbie Green and 21 trombones my father brought with him from the States after a tour with his orchestra. That amazing sound of 4 sections of 5 trombones each accompanying Urbie’s incredibly was so inspiring and it still is. It was for me so nice to participate in this “Urbie Green tribute” project of the New Trombone Collective. With 4 amazing trombone jazz soloists, Bart van Lier, Jiggs Wigham, Mark Nightingale and Nils Wogram in the role of Urbie and us as the 20 “World Greatest” as they were named on the original LP’s playing Urbie originals and new compositions for this formation. A dream come true and I hope you will enjoy the live registration of this project’s concert as much as we enjoyed playing it.
Natalie Mannix – Trombone
Assistant Professor of Trombone at the University of North Texas
15 Minute Meditation for Developing a Positive Internal Dialogue
Musicians are really good at critical and analytical thinking while playing. It is what we do when we practice to get better. When it comes time to perform, it is often hard to turn this off and focus on the music. A lot of us also battle with negative self-talk that can be harmful for self-esteem and overall success on the trombone. I do a lot of work on the mental performance state. Mindful meditation can really help with relaxation and a quiet mind that can help with nerves and performing.
Dorothy Gates’s Servant of Peace for Trombone and Piano
Thomas Hulten, trombone, premiered this piece with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. I studied this recording a lot while preparing for the premier of the wind band version for the American Trombone Workshop in March. Fantastic playing and wonderful piece to add to the repertoire!
Effortless Deep Breathing
I use Alexander Technique every day in my trombone playing and to reduce overall back/shoulder pain and tension. It has been so important in my performing technique and overall body health. There are so many Alexander Technique videos on YouTube that I had a hard time picking one. I highly advise working one-on-one with a certified instructor. There are a lot of myths to dispel in proper breathing for wind players. This video is a good start.
Alex Iles – Principal Trombone
Long Beach Symphony & Freelancer
What Makes This Song Great? Episode 36 with Rick Beato
Multi-instrumentalist and composer/arranger, and veteran You Tuber, Rick Beato is a fantastic music teacher who opens up students to the theory and tools for musicianship which you can apply directly to daily situations. In his popular Youtube channel, Rick shares practical thoughts and answers using his deep rooted knowledge and experience real life musical situations. He is an outstanding musician, transcriber, instrumentalist and producer regardless of the setting; pop music, rock and roll, jazz, classical, film scoring, etc .
The Coltrane Fractal
Bassist, music theorist, arranger, composer, teacher and popular music You Tuber Adam has a mind-blowing channel of videos taking on subjects like music theory, psycho-acoustics, and instrumental practice techniques. He also talks about gear, equipment and production ideas. This was the first video that introduced me to Adam’s channel. He’s that guy you and your music major friends would hang out with until dawn pondering and discussing all kinds of musical and philosophical ideas. He would be the oracle of information to settle all those arguments you and your friends would have after you’d finished your class assignments.
Malcolm Gladwell: Outliers
Author, journalist and public speaker Malcolm Gladwell discusses the connections between effort and success by briefly describing the first 10 years of the rock band, Fleetwood Mac. “Instant success” is not always obvious, apparent or inherent. In his book, “Outliers” Gladwell propagated the rather controversial “10,000” rule, a theory that many sociologists and psychologists take issue with these days for lack of evidence. However, the idea that most “instant success” is “anything but that” still remains a compelling idea. The vast majority of great musicians had to work for it, and approach that work in a smart way.
Bones Apart Stars and Stripes
This might be one of the first “viral” trombone videos I had heard of on YouTube. I like it for several reasons. It demonstrates playing of a very high caliber by the full ensemble and soloists. It also shows 4 women playing at this level; something that was not as well known to the public in 2007. Everyone was talking about and sharing this video [even though it came out a few years before most of us were on Facebook], but I think it had a particularly strong influence among young women trombonists. Many women brass players have told me they have received encouraging words of support from many men over the years, but they have also mentioned that they felt a different kind of encouragement seeing a group of women trombonists all performing brilliantly together. This video gives me hope that more men and women will be inspired by every type of music created and performed by women and men from emerging from every corner of the world.
I Needs to Be Bee’d With, 1965 (featuring Al Grey with the Count Basie Orchestra)
Some musicians play in a way that is beyond their own era or the genre or labels they are most associated with. In the trombone world, there have been several great jazz musicians who fit this description. JJ Johnson was also a gifted composer and arranger. Urbie Green was a successful studio musician, and could play “tailgate” style, beautiful ballads as well as mainstream and even more modern jazz, Britt Woodman was equally comfortable as a solo trombonist with Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus. In this video, Al Grey displays masterful blues trombone playing, as well as complete mastery of the bebop language, his unique plunger mute abilities, incredible melodicism, as well as explosive trombone technique and range [this solo covers 3 octaves]. He also gives a clinic in how to patiently build a perfect solo [sermon!?!] starting with simple murmurs all the way into an impassioned testimony. All that, and in less than 2 minutes! The sum of these details makes this one of the most memorable trombone solos on the internet. I refer so many students and friends to this solo performance. It swings so hard!!! Also, this is the Basie band at what many consider one of its finest periods! Sure there are so many fine jazz trombone performances to check out on the internet, but this solo is so universal in its appeal and timeless in its feel.
Brad Edwards – Trombone
Associate Professor of Trombone at Arizona State University
How to practice effectively…for just about anything – Annie Bosler and Don Greene
I became more interested in myelin science after reading the Talent Code by Dan Coyle. This knowledge has fundamentally changed the way I practice and teach. As time has gone by, I feel the influence of this knowledge continuing to grow in my mind and heart.
(MRI) Chamber Music with Sarah Willis
Another video I turn to a lot in my teaching. Although analysis is normally paralysis, I do find that, when watching this video, my students often have an “aha” moment. I like to point out how the tongue arches on the highest notes. I also like to point out how motionless the jaw is during attacks; the tongue is beautifully isolated.
Christine Purdue Jones – Trombone
Master Sergeant, United States Air Force Band
Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are | Amy Cuddy
The information contained in this talk is incredibly powerful, and I’d even go so far as to say it is a MUST WATCH for everyone. Amy Cuddy gives a super simple way to increase your presence – not only useful for when we take the stage, but also any stressful situation we may encounter in our lives.
Developing High Range on the Trombone
In this video, SSgt Austin Westjohn from the U.S. Army Band shares some excellent thoughts on high register playing. Austin’s high range is truly astounding and he makes it seem completely effortless! I just love how he packages his concepts – so simple, and easy to incorporate yourself and/or share with students.
Bennie and the Jets – Elton John (‘Sinatra At The Sands’ Style) ft. Aubrey Logan
An equally gifted jazz trombonist and vocalist, Aubrey Logan is simply an inspiration. I really admire the creativity of jazz artists, so to be able to express that creativity through two different outlets just blows my mind. I love the vibe of Postmodern Jukebox, so adding Aubrey to the mix is a real treat.
Meet Titus Underwood, The First Black Principle Oboist of a Major Symphony Orchestra
Uncomfortable conversations need to be had regarding racial equality, not just in the U.S. but around the world. The story Titus shares in the video is horrifying. We need to be aware that this kind of behavior exists and get comfortable calling it out. Be an ally to your colleagues/peers/students that are minorities. Let’s continue to educate ourselves, reflect on our own thoughts and behaviors, and keep these discussions going.
Too Many Zooz – Bedford
And now for something COMPLETELY different! This band, and Leo P. in particular, absolutely fascinate me. I love their authenticity and commitment. They are 100% all in, don’t care what anyone thinks, and just totally rock it. They gave the performance of their lives on that train! We could all learn something from watching this unique group, plus be entertained to boot.
