Buzzing

Few methods of practice can help solve more problems more efficiently than mouthpiece buzzing (*if* you do it correctly). The mouthpiece is less forgiving than the trombone. It will more quickly reveal bad playing habits. If you can buzz a passage, you'll play it better.
It is especially important to spend some time buzzing early in your daily warm-up routine.
(Check out some of the flow exercises in my basic daily routine. They involve a good bit of buzzing and playing.)
(Here is a direct link to some simple tunes that are good for buzzing)

WHAT IS A GOOD BUZZ?

Listen carefully to your mouthpiece buzzing. Here are some characteristics of a good buzz:

• A good buzz finds a happy medium between the extremes of of tight/constricted and loose/airy.
• To achieve full resonance, your buzz should have a little roughness around the edges of the sound. I call this sound the "diamond in the rough."
• With a good buzz, you will feel as if your air is flowing out rather quickly without being forced. Think of "collapsing" like a big balloon as you buzz.
• A good buzz has a clear center to the sound.
• A good buzz starts with a full sound right away. It doesn't creep in or "blossom" into a full sound over time.
• A good buzz requires that you hear the note in your "mind's ear "before you begin. 

What to Buzz?

Instead of stagnant patterns, buzz simple lyrical melodies. Strive both for pitch accuracy and good musical phrasing as you buzz. You may want to begin with legato melodies in which you lightly gliss from note to note without tonguing. After a few legato tunes, be sure to include some light articulated melodies.

Click here for a small collection of 12 simple tunes you can download.

Try this: Buzzing with piano

As you buzz simple melodies (or even slow arpeggios), try playing chord roots with your left hand on the piano (which, hopefully, is in tune). Listen carefully and match your pitch to the piano. Think of "blending" your sound into the piano's. Learn chord progressions to simple tunes such as "Silent Night" and play chord roots under your melody. Listen! 

Try this: Good vibrations

As you buzz, try lightly resting your hand along your jaw bone. When you are buzzing well, you should feel some vibration in your jaw. Generally speaking, the more vibration, the better. While your hand is there, check for excessive muscle tension. Keep things relaxed. You can also try feeling for vibration in your chest. Try laying your hand on your clavicle bone and checking for vibration while you buzz. 

Try this: Pitch accuracy

As an experiment, try buzzing a middle F on your mouthpiece. As you continue to buzz this note, slowly and carefully insert the mouthpiece into your trombone. Listen to your tone.Now, try buzzing an F-sharp and again insert the mouthpiece into the trombone. Since you are in first position, the instrument will "force" your pitch down to an F. Listen to how much worse your tone is. Ask yourself: how often does your embouchure attempt to buzz the wrong tone only to be corrected by the trombone? How much better can your tone be if you consistently and instinctively buzz the correct pitches?