Education is an ongoing process of learning for both students and teachers.  I have found over the last 20 years that as the students have come to me with trumpet-related issues, I have become a better teacher as we work together to solve the problem.  Because the teacher and student have a symbiotic relationship in the musical progression, the student will only grow through diligent practice of the teacher’s instruction.  The teacher should clearly articulate as well as model the musical elements being taught to a student.  One of my goals is to promote a positive environment giving the students opportunities to explore their passions.  In that environment, the students will be able to effectively receive the instruction and apply it to their instrument as they improve their skills.

Effective teaching can be described as “making the unfamiliar become familiar.”  This concept of making the seemingly difficult become easier is fostered through communication, analysis, and application.  Communication of the goals and the skills needed to reach those goals will help a student realize what is expected to achieve success.  Analysis of musical style occurs through listening and researching performance practices giving the student a concept in which to base the stylistic considerations.  Application is cultivated through efficient practice sessions and consistent performances.  As a student begins to properly apply these techniques, they will begin to realize that consistent practice of fundamental skills will grow their ability to make the unfamiliar become familiar.

My purpose as a teacher has been to make music accessible to students at every level.  Because music is a learned skill, every student’s development will be unique.  While their journey is distinctive, it does however include similarities to all trumpeters.  These commonalities are found in trumpet fundamentals, then applied to every student.  The development of sound, scales, arpeggios, finger technique, articulation, and flexibility are some of the basic skills to be developed and maintained.  Once the fundamentals have become familiar, the student begins to access music at a higher difficulty level.  The students are then challenged through musical performance of works that grow their proficiency level.  Over a four-year degree, students will develop into versatile trumpeters being able to play a variety of styles in both classical and jazz genres, because their basic trumpet skills are applicable in every style.