TROMBONE STUDIO
© Rob Foote, Digital Content Producer at SEMO
Dr. Felipe Brito
Assistant Professor of Trombone and Director of Jazz Studies
A Message from Dr. Brito
“Dear prospective students, welcome to the Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) Trombone Studio! We are excited about your interest in joining our studio and pursuing an undergraduate degree in Trombone Performance or Music Education. I strive to educate students of all backgrounds on the power of music to affect the perspectives and culture around them. I encourage anyone who aligns with those values to APPLY NOW.”
- Dr. Felipe Brito, Assistant Professor of Trombone and Director of Jazz Studies
Learning Opportunities
Private Lessons
You will take a 1-hour private lesson with Dr. Brito weekly.
Every week students will learn a rich music curriculum, including:
technical studies
technical etudes
melodic etudes
solo repertoire
orchestral excerpts
jazz improvisation
commercial music repertoire
Your lessons will be tailored to your professional goals if you are a classical, commercial, or jazz musician.
Studio Classes
During the studio class, students have a chance to learn about several topics related to the trombone and a career in music, such as:
daily routine on trombone
recital preparation
orchestral playing
professional auditions
trombone competitions
teaching skills for low brass
history of trombone
improvisation on jazz, commercial
and Afro-Cuban music/ Salsa
Guest Artists
Students have an opportunity to work with guest trombone players throughout the year.
Trombone Choir
Students participate in chamber music classes SEMO Trombone Choir.
Jazz Music
In addition to the classical music curriculum, trombone students can take jazz improvisation, theory and harmony, combo, and big band classes.
Commercial Music
Suppose you want to be a studio musician, a touring trombone player, or a strong sectional commercial player. In that case, the SEMO Trombone Studio offers you the tools to succeed in those career paths!
Arts Administration
In addition to our “Entrepreneurship in Music” class offered at SEMO, during studio class, students will learn about job search, fundraising, grant writing, marketing, advertising, social media for musicians, web design for musicians, networking skills, and much more!
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - D.E.I.
We create a dialogue among music not commonly present in the concert hall by learning the richness of folkloric, urban, and popular music repertoire from the African Diaspora Music and Culture, Latin America, and several other minority groups.
Our trombone students have an opportunity to perform in the community during the Hispanic Heritage Festival and Black History Month celebrations with our partnership through the nonprofit OneCity.
100%
GRADUATES EMPLOYED
100%
PLACEMENT FOR STUDENTS SEEKING GRADUATE PROGRAMS
7+
PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLES
Trombone Auditions
Your path to becoming a Redhawk!
Audition Dates
Monday, November 13, 2023
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Monday, February 19, 2024
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Other dates are available upon request.
Step 1
Apply for the admission to the university.
Step 2
Music Major Day or Audition Day Registration.
Audition Requirements
for both Tenor Trombone and Bass Trombone
One lyrical etude or a slow movement from a solo piece (no piano accompaniment needed).
One technical etude or a fast movement from a solo piece (no piano accompaniment needed).
Major scales required, minor scale knowledge preferred, full range chromatic scale.
The applicant might be asked to demonstrate sight-reading abilities.
For Jazz and Commercial Music applicants only: a blues, a jazz standard, a bebop tune, a bossa nova tune, or a commercial tune; 1. play the theme and 2. improve over it.
