Circuit Training: A Review

Circuit Training for Trombone. Peter Gane. Published by Warwick Music.

Circuit Training for Trombone, by Peter Gane, attempts to provide a method of studying the trombone that "combines the physical and mental approaches of an athlete with the physical and mental approaches of the musician." According to Gane, the musical instrument should become an extension of the musician, rather than a piece of hardware.

The first section of this text gives directions for a progressive series of physical stretching, balance, and breathing exercises designed to help the student become aware of his body. The remainder of the text consists of 39 pages of various trombone exercises and etudes. These studies work on several aspects of playing, including warming up, single and double tonguing, scales, alternate positions, and cooling down.

Due in part to cartoon drawings of a football player (soccer, if you are an American), this book seems to be targeted to middle school or high school players. In addition, the ranges of the studies tend focus on the low and middle register, usually from F on the bottom of the bass clef staff to around F above the staff.

There are a few drawbacks to this book. The physical exercises take around half an hour to complete, which would cut into valuable practice time for many trombonists. Many younger students do not have the patience to spend that long on practicing anyway. The trombone studies do not seem to be ordered in any progressive way, which makes organizing a routine from this book difficult. A trombone instructor may, however, make good use of this book by assigning certain exercises in conjunction with other books and solos.