Trombone Study
Why Study Trombone at EMU?
The EMU Trombone Program offers a wide variety of exciting opportunities for trombone majors and minors:
- Private trombone instruction with Dr. Donald Babcock, Professor of Trombone. All trombone majors (including Performance, Music Education, Music Therapy, and BA) receive a weekly 1-hour private lesson. In addition to a private lesson, trombone students meet weekly for Trombone Studio Class where they play in trombone choir and trombone ensembles, learn orchestral excerpts, discuss trombone-related topics, and perform for each other. Meet our instructor, Dr. Donald Babcock.
- Most classes are taught by faculty rather than graduate teaching assistants. At Eastern Michigan University opportunities abound for a solid education. Numerous performance opportunities and quality instruction combine to form a well-rounded education in preparation for graduate school, music education, music therapy, music business, or other careers in music.
- EMU Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble. (Available through audition.) In these ensembles, undergraduate as well as graduate students have the opportunity to perform challenging repertoire.
- Performing and competition opportunities. EMU William Stewart Competition, the Manilow Performance Competition, the Kappa Kappa Psi Honors Recital, the Tau Beta Sigma Chamber Music Recital, and Thursday Student Recitals.
- EMU Faculty Performances. Dr. Babcock and many other EMU music faculty are frequent soloists on and off campus. Dr. Babcock plays principal trombone with the Ann Arbor Symphony.
- Exposure to other trombonists. Dr. Babcock regularly invites guest artists to campus for recitals, lectures, and master classes. Guests have included Abbie Conant, Jiggs Whigham, John Kitzman, Brett Baker, Randy Hawes, Wycliffe Gordon, and Ron Barron.
- Music Now Festival. This biennial festival celebrating new music brings a major contemporary composer to EMU for a 3-4 day residency. Recent guests include Libby Larsen, John Corigliano, Joan Tower, and Peter Schickele, and William Bolcom.
- EMU Undergraduate Honors Symposium. Undergraduates compete to represent the Department of Music at the University-wide symposium held each March.
- EMU Honors Program. Students may participate in the advanced course offerings of the Honors Program and can even create contracts with the program to present recitals for credit.
Auditions
Find out how to get involved on our audition page.
Trombone Guest Artists
Guest artists are an integral part of the study of music. The trombone studio at Eastern Michigan University is actively involved in hosting guest artists and clinicians. Our guests have included the following:
- Brett Baker, Freelance Artist, England
- Wycliffe Gordon, Freelance Jazz Artist
- Christopher Hayes, Ohio University, Athens, OH
- Nick Keelan, Professor of Trombone, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI
- Carlos Mello, Professor of Trombone, University of Brasilia, Brazil
- Thomas Zugger, Professor of Trombone, Capitol University, Columbus, OH
- John Kitzman, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas, TX
- Randall Hawes, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit, MI
- James Bicigo, Professor of Trombone, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, AK
- Jiggs Whigham, International Jazz Artist
- J. Michael Hall, Professor of Trombone, Old Dominion University, VA
- Terry Leahy, Australian trombonist.
- Dylan Chmura-Moore, Professor of Trombone, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, WI
- Andrew Mitchell, Professor of Trombone, Youngtown State University, OH
- Dr. Karl Hinterbichler, Professor of Low Brass, University of New Mexico, NM
- John Fedchock, Legendary Jazz Trombonist, NY
- Abbie Conant, Professor of Trombone, Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Trossingen, Germany
- Dr. Ben McIlwain, Professor of Trombone, the University of Southern Mississippi