There are now so many great products and apps on the market.  They can make practicing more fun and as a result, even seasoned players have reported that they practice longer when using these materials.

Apps

• iReal Pro – This jazz-oriented product creates an accompaniment of pre-installed or downloadable tunes or from chords that you enter.  Change speed, style, instrumentation, etc. with ease.  Used for improvisation practice.  For Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android.

Software – Let’s you adjust tempo, transpose, record your performance, burn to a CD (with your performance or accompaniment only so you can “take it on the road), and more

• Band in a Box – Unrivaled jazz accompaniment tool, with pre-programmed song & styles, or put in your own changes
• SmartMusic – With a clip-on mic, the accompaniment actually follows the player!

Web-based Play-alongs – Free and downloadable!

• Youtube – has many backing tracks and karaoke tracks
• Drone Tones – Edwards, Brad
• The Musical Intervals Tutor – Salocks, Madeline
• TromboneExcerpts.org (although this was designed for listening, playing along with the excerpts is a great way to learn style, pitch, and more!) – Vatt, Seth
• BrassExcerpts.com
• Orchestral Horn Excerpts – Robbins, Daren
• TrumpetExcerpts.org – Shuler, Sydney
• Blues Chord Changes – Wilken, David
• Major Scale/Chord Chord Changes – Wilken, David
• Brass Warm-ups wtih MP3 Play-along Tracks – Hauser, Joshua

Technical Development

• 15 Minute Warm-Up Routine (see website for more)
• 20 Minute Warm-Up Routine
• Brass Player’s Warm-Up & Practice Guide
• Breakfast – Intonation Practice for Trombonists
• Intonation Repair Tool
• The Intonation Tutor
• The Tuning CD
• TuneUp Systems

Classical Play-alongs – For practicing solos with the piano or band accompaniment

• The Bordogni Vocalises with play-along CD accompaniments
• Cantolopera – vocal music
• Frits Leffef Brass Sheet Music and Play Along
• Hal Leonard’s series
• Hickey’s Music Center – Music Minus One
• Hickey’s Music Center – Play Along with the Canadian Brass
• Hickey’s Music Center – Arias with Accompaniment CD
• Hickey’s Music Center – Trombone with Accompaniment
• SmartMusic

Jazz Play-alongs – For practicing melodies and improv with a jazz accompaniment

• BackUp Trax series – click on 1 of the 4 books at the bottom, then “Brass and Reeds” or your choice
• Band in a Box
• Blues Chord Changes for improvisation in all keys
• Chop Monster series – also available from other dealers
• Hal Leonard’s series
• Jamey Abersold’s series
• Major Scale/Chord Chord Changes for improvisation in all keys
• Mark Nightingale’s Play-alongs
• Mel Bay’s series – “Book/CD Set” search
• Play With A Pro Trombone Music – also available from other dealers and for other instruments
• Practicing Jazz Improvisation – Pfenninger, Rik
• Youtube – has many backing tracks and karaoke tracks

Another Article on this Subject

• Symphonic Play-Along Practicing by Jerry Fallenberg

 

Written 3/21/2004, revised 12/26/2016, links will be added continuously