Before playing a single note, scan the chart for these 5 things:
Pro trombonist tip: Mark slide positions mentally for tricky leaps (e.g., G to Db = 4th to 4th with trigger, or 1st to 5th).
Because the trombone slide obscures your vision, how you position your music stand matters.
Most jazz sight reading disasters are not technical—they are mental. You see a wall of black ink, your heart rate spikes, and your embouchure tightens. jazz sight reading trombone
Before you play, take 30 seconds of silence.
Scan the chart for:
During the read:
Books (in order of difficulty):
Online Tools:
Final Pro Advice:
“In jazz, a wrong note swung correctly sounds better than a right note played stiffly.”
– Slide Hampton Before playing a single note, scan the chart
Record yourself sight reading one chorus of a tune weekly. Listen for:
✅ Did you swing the eighth notes?
✅ Did you recover smoothly after a mistake?
✅ Did your slide move without hesitation?
Master this guide, and you’ll not only survive any reading call – you’ll get called back.