Review

Brian Scarborough
Flow Studies:

, United States
Publisher: Brian Scarborough
Date of Publication: 2024
URL: http://www.brianscarboroughmusic.com
Language: English

e-book. 53 pages

Primary Genre: Study Material - etude

Brian Scarborough is a top-call trombonist, improviser, composer, and educator in the greater Kansas City area. He performs with his own ensembles and is a member of the People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City, the Boulevard Big Band, and a founding member of Zen Brass.

From Flow Studies preface: 

Over the years, I have created a set of flow studies that combine crucial elements of fundamentally sound trombone playing with the application of music theory and development of our ear. These exercises utilize the full length of the slide while navigating the overtone series, and are paired with the construction of chords, scales, common harmonic progressions, and various intervals. While our trombone playing will undoubtedly benefit from this material, equal importance lies in the growth of the musical ear and cognitive connections, enhancing command of the instrument.

Included in Flow Studies are the following: Practice Tips and Notes, Triads, Common Seventh Chords, One, Four, Five (major and minor), Jazz Turnarounds, Fourths, Scales, and More Seventh Chords. All 40 pages of exercises take you through a set of arpeggiated chord changes. With one short exception, which is in 5/8 time, all the other exercises consist of 8th notes in duple patterns. Range requirements are moderate; there are no indicated dynamic choices, slurs, phrasing, or other musical markings. The printing and layout are first-class.