TromboneChat

Is there any substantial difference between the various Kopprasch trombone etudes books? It seems like several publishers have come out with them. I'm going to start working on Kopprasch etudes (vol. 1), and I'm curious about whether there are substantial differences. Readability? Editing?

As long as you are practicing it probably doesn't matter about the edition details. As long as we are on the topic of technical etudes, I wish I had been shown the Blume 36 studies during my undergrad. For me, that book gives a much more thorough technical grounding with more key, articulation and dynamic challenges than the Kopprasch. I also like that the book is divided up into easy, medium and hard levels. If I've had a lay off, I can go back to easy mode.

Wayne wrote: Mon Jun 15, 2026 11:49 am As long as you are practicing it probably doesn't matter about the edition details. As long as we are on the topic of technical etudes, I wish I had been shown the Blume 36 studies during my undergrad. For me, that book gives a much more thorough technical grounding with more key, articulation and dynamic challenges than the Kopprasch. I also like that the book is divided up into easy, medium and hard levels. If I've had a lay off, I can go back to easy mode.

I agree: musically and technically, the Blume etudes are more thorough regarding key, articulation, and dynamic challenges.

One advantage of the Kopprasch etudes is that they are shorter. They are often 1/2 page, sometimes less, whereas the Blume etudes are usually 1 page, and sometimes 1&1/2. FWIW, the Slama etudes are also short (often less than 1/2 page), and cover most keys, and a variety of dynamics and articulations.

OTOH, if you want etudes that are longer than Blume (and are nauseatingly repetitive), then try the Muller books.

To the OP’s question: I doubt there are any substantial differences between the American reprints (Kendor, International, Fischer, etc.) aside from typographical errors. I would not be surprised to find differences between these reprints and European editions (Hofmeister, Warwick, etc.).

There are significant differences between the editions! I grew up with the Carl Fischer edition in the 1970s and it presented some interesting challenges for me as a young player because there are studies that are in A Major (for example: #19), E Major (#27) and B Major (#28 and #32). After some diligent practice, those exercises became some of my favorites.

Fast forward to the mid 1980s when I was starting my studio, I asked some of my students to get the Kopprasch Studies for Trombone. A couple of my students showed up with the Kopprasch Studies printed by a different publisher and I was sad to see the "sharp key" exercises were transposed to flat keys.....A-flat, E-flat and B-flat.

Unfortunately, I cannot remember what publisher made those changes, but I have always told my students to purchase the Carl Fischer Edition since then. I have often wondered if that particular edition stood the test of time and is still available. Has anyone else seen the "easy key" edition of the Kopprasch Studies?

Crazy4Tbone86 wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2026 7:24 pm Has anyone else seen the "easy key" edition of the Kopprasch Studies?

I don't know. But several versions have been uploaded to IMSLP. Have a look at the Transcriptions tab for trombone editions.
https://imslp.org/wiki/60_Etudes_for_Lo ... %2C_Georg)

AtomicClock,

I appreciate the link to IMSLP! I browsed through some of them and the trombone edition that I mentioned was not in there. Interestingly, I did notice the following:

*The original horn studies are mostly in C Major, C minor, F Major and G Major. But please note....the original intent was for the studies to be transposed to multiple keys on the horn.

*Some of the Tuba studies are in easy keys or transposed up to a key that allows the instrument to be more nimble.

*The trumpet Kopprasch Studies are in a different order and some of them have been placed in simpler keys (when compared to the Carl Fischer trombone edition).

*The different editions of the trombone Kopprasch Studies seem to have the same print idiosyncrasies. If you look closely at them, they have the same spacing oddities between the same notes. Brings to question....which came first? The Carl Fischer, the International or the Alphonse/Leduc?

Just in that sampling of Kopprasch Studies, it is easy to see that different publishers have taken many liberties in their key signature selections.

Well, I stand corrected. And…

Crazy4Tbone86 wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2026 8:27 pm But please note....the original intent was for the studies to be transposed to multiple keys on the horn…

Just in that sampling of Kopprasch Studies, it is easy to see that different publishers have taken many liberties in their key signature selections.