Trombone playing should feel easy, yet for many of us, it often doesn’t. Make it effortless!

We’re a month into 2025, so it’s about time I share my 2025 trombone-playing resolutions. My aim for this (and the next 300 years) is to focus on relaxed playing. Full sound with minimum effort. Responsive chops. This is what makes great trombone players stand out—they all have it down. Some just do it right from the get-go and never look back, but most of us have to work consciously on this throughout our playing career. Here’s my checklist for 2025 and beyond. It is already doing wonders for me, and I bet it can for you too.

The 2025 trombone player’s ultimate to-do list

• Relax! This is the key to all good trombone playing.
• Breathe in and let your belly out (when you sound great, nobody will notice your belly anyway…)
• Inhale = relaxation. Exhale = deliberate but still modest work.
• Play soft (like, really soft) with a full sound and feel your lips vibrate.
• Aim for a full, rich sound with lots of overtones.
• Fast, low inhales (belly out) prevent tension and keep airflow unrestricted, allowing for a more effortless and open sound.
• Use abdominal support only from low down.
• Good posture without forcing your body into some military parade-like posture.
• Focus on an open throat. Say the word “low” out loud, and feel how it helps you open your throat. Keep it this way.
• Maintain a good sound until your lungs are empty. Don’t let 30% of air remaining equal a 30% decrease in sound quality!
• Keep the corners of your lips stable while obtaining a…
• …relaxed embouchure that enables your lips to vibrate easily (=less force needed to produce sound).
• Did I mention playing soft?
• Final tip: PLAY SOFT! (You’ll find all the dynamics you need when necessary, don’t worry.)

My personal tricks (might work for you too)

• Lip buzzing an octave down. The lower range will help you avoid folding your lips in. Never do that. Not all players find buzzing comfortable.
• Play with a drone to ensure your pitch doesn’t drift in pursuit of a relaxed embouchure.
• Alternate with a larger mouthpiece to make your lips vibrate more easily—and maintain that sensation when returning to your regular size.

What not to do in 2025 (and the next 300 years)

• Don’t play with a bad sound
• Never use force to start a note
• Do not use upper body strength for high notes
• Don’t lock your throat before or while playing
• Avoid overthinking your playing (will result in bad music coming out of your horn, and green smoke coming out of your ears)

Put these tips to work

Now it’s time to put this knowledge to work. It applies to every trombone exercise or piece of ‘bone music you work on. If you want a lot of hands-on exercises and etudes for trombone players of all genres, you could try the free trial to the member’s section and get access to well over 2,000 pages of specialized top-notch quality trombone sheet music. Everything is explained to let you get the most out of each topic and exercise.

I am considering embroidering the 2025 trombone resolutions and sticking it on my wall. Send a picture if you beat me to it!

Slide on,

Anders Larson,

relaxed trombone player and proud founder of digitaltrombone.com