Session Proposals

Justin Cook was recently appointed as the Assistant Professor of Trombone at the University of Oklahoma where he will being in the fall of 2025. Dr. Cook currently teaches at the University of Central Arkansas where he teaches studio trombone, trombone choir, brass ensembles, low brass methods, and directs the Jazz Repertory Ensemble. In addition to his college teaching, Justin has been on faculty for the Southeast Trombone Symposium and is the Festival Manager for the International Trombone Festival. In the summer of 2022 Dr. Cook hosted the International Trombone Festival at the University of Central Arkansas.

Dr. Cook will present a clinic on tips and tricks that can help teach trombone players from beginning band through high school. Here is an outline of the proposed clinic:

I. How Do I Get My Trombone Players To Play In Tune
Tendencies – Partials and Positions – There are more than 7 positions
a. Equal Temperament vs. Just Intonation - Harmony Director and Tonal Energy
b. Drone Pitch
c. Tuners
d. Duets
e. Philosophies - adjust slide, not tone or air

II. Types of Slurs - And When To Use Them
a. Tongue Slur
b. Natural Slur
c. Lip Slur

III. Bass Trombone - when, why, and how?
a. Equipment: transitional and after
b. Who are good candidates for switching
c. Doubling (Tuba/Euph players)
d. Starting exercises/methods
e. How do the valves work?

IV. What Kind Of Trombone Do I Use In Which ensemble
a. Concert Band
b. Marching Band
c. Jazz Band

V. Slide Technique
a. Wait longer, Move Faster
b. Late, Fast, Smooth
c. 2 fingers and a thumb
e. don’t touch the bell
d. Lyrical music vs. Technical music

VI. Motivating Trombonists
a. Repertoire
b. Solo and Ensemble
c. Recordings
d. Trombone Choir

• Band - Middle School
• Band - Secondary