EDUCATION

As a teacher and mentor, my aspiration is to inspire, to encourage, and to instill a sense of excitement in students, while sharing my love for music. As a trumpet teacher, I do not teach a class, I teach a person. It is not always the highest notes or the brightest lights of the stage that embody the pinnacle of our collaborative efforts with a students, rather, it is a quiet moment shared in the studio; when a struggling student overcomes a challenge and begins to find their way down a path leading towards artistic achievement and expression.

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Of course the challenges of the trumpet are many, and must be approached systematically with respect to the body of knowledge required to develop proficiency. However, within this framework, there must exist the understanding of each individual’s need. This is because organic growth on an instrument occurs in different ways dependent upon the individual in question. As part of this individualized teaching process, I assess each student’s learning style. In areas where a student may posses deficiencies, I develop a curriculum personalized to fit the pedagogical needs of that player. These efforts, while labor intensive, are always fruitful and facilitate a trust-based relationship.

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Emphasis on strong fundamentals, repertoire development, entrepreneurial skills and professionalism, are integral to a well-rounded program. There are innumerable books containing a myriad of exercises and etudes that are geared towards the development of the trumpet skill. This is clearly illustrated in my Plan of Study included earlier in this document.

The element that makes or breaks a prescribed plan of study is implementation. It is how one practices, not what. When introducing new material to a student, I am prudent to foster an understanding of context and musical application, without which, the skill is reduced from an art, to a utilitarian craft. Every slur study leads to a legato phrase, each crisp articulation drill yields it’s results in a noble fanfare. Solfeggio, mouthpiece buzzing, theory and ear training all come to bear in teaching the most complete musician.

 

Throughout my musical life, I have been struck by the array of emotions, memories, and mental imageries that live and breath in each performance. The camaraderie and collaborative energy have always compelled me to reach for the next level of ability in order to contribute at my highest level. These are the values that I strive to instill in my students. They are the drive behind my artistry and I consider it a privilege to pass these standards forward to the next wave of emerging musicians.