I have spent the past several years of my career developing a style of instruction that I find to be effective. I encourage you to read my teaching philosophy to get a sense of how I work and what I expect from my students.
My Philosophy
I have taught students of all ages and skill levels, but one thing is always the same – I get to watch my students learn about themselves through the exploration of music. My goal is always to provide students with the tools they need to reach their own creative goals in a positive and uplifting environment.
The most important thing I teach my students is how to think for themselves, solve problems effectively, and to express themselves creatively.
I expect my students to be on time, be prepared, and to be open to new ways of thinking. While we focus on learning the fundamentals of trumpet playing, we are inherently learning about breaking down problems, setting goals, and developing a healthy work ethic. Ultimately, I want my students to have an enjoyable experience with music. I truly believe that through studying music students can learn so much about themselves and their potential to succeed.
My Approach to Trumpet Playing
I work with students to break down the elements of trumpet playing into what we call “fundamentals.” By focusing on these fundamentals, we can begin to build a healthy relationship with the instrument and make progress in a sustainable and enjoyable way.
Click on each fundamental of playing to learn more.
Musicianship
Playing music helps allows you to explore your creative voice and to find joy and meaning through the sounds you create. Musicianship is that special element, the individual element of expression.
Sound
Sound quality is crucial to good trumpet playing. A good trumpet sound should be clear and sound effortless.
Articulation
Articulation adds definition to sounds, the same way consonants define certain sounds in our language.
Flexibility
Flexibility is the movement from low pitches to high pitches (or vice versa). Trumpet players need to be able to move between different pitches with ease.
Scales
Scales are the “building blocks” of music, similar to how words are “building blocks” of language. We practice scales to learn the language of music.
Range
Trumpet players must be able to play both low and high notes in order to create music. Expanding the range (amount of notes someone can play) expands the possibilities.
Dynamics
Dynamics are how loud or soft a sound is. Dynamics are one of many tools we can use to make our trumpet playing more expressive.
Endurance
Trumpet playing uses muscles in the face and mouth not commonly used in everyday life. We need to strengthen these muscles in a healthy way in order to play the trumpet for long periods of time.