After this upcoming Saturday, Brass Connections will be wrapped! It has been an incredible experience, with ups and downs (thankfully, mostly ups). I am sad to see it go, but happy with what we accomplished. The participants have been really, really incredible. I’m not saying that because every administrator has a responsibility to praise their…
Trumpet Mechanics
The last year has been a whirlwind of revelation for me. I have traveled the world “virtually” since the pandemic began, sensing that many who had seemingly been left behind now had a second lease on a career, and that the only obstacles for those individuals were money, time, and ego. So stuck not least…
National Opportunities
What Comes After All-State? You worked hard for months, you auditioned, and you’ve made All-District or All-State. First of all, congratulations! Your hard work has paid off. This document is to provide some possible next steps on your path to world domination. Because there is no “national band” (or at least, a multitude of options),…
Black Friday?
Let me start by first putting forth the thesis of this article as clearly as I can: if you want a career in music, you MUST invest. You cannot be shy about spending money to get the advice and guidance that you need. I had the wonderful experience of hosting U.S. Coast Guard bandsman and…
COVID-19
Hello, This year has certainly been the most interesting of my professional life so far. In speaking with parents, it is clear that we are currently facing an unprecedented situation. I know some parts of the U.S. have thus far been relatively unaffected. Many are continuing their lives with minimal disruption. Here in Massachusetts, nearly…
Online Bookings
I’ve been busy at work updating my web site and modernizing booking and payment flow for students. First, I am happy to share that I am now accepting online bookings. You should be able to see a sidebar widget to book an appointment, ala cart. You can also press the botton below. Book an Appointment…
Boston Trumpet Workshop and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
Hello everyone, I have two great announcements to make. First, my colleague Phil Sullivan and I are throwing a trumpet bash at the end of the summer, the Boston Trumpet Workshop. We are so excited about this. We will be talking about warming up, rehearsing, plus a special performance by the Spitfire Trumpet Ensemble and…
Holidays!
Greetings students! A couple of things to think about over the Holiday break. Needham students, you all are back on the 2nd. Milton students, you all are back after the 7th. Wayland students, you are back on the 2nd. Waltham/Harvard/other students, you can schedule lessons again starting on the 2nd. Let’s talk about cleaning those…
“The Music of New England” Now Available
Hello! Just a note that the New England Brass Band’s latest CD, “The Music of New England,” is now available. I was involved heavily in fundraising and a number of other aspects of this recording. This CD is self-made on a number of levels: we have one composition and several arrangements written and arranged by…
The First Sounds
I recently put out a Facebook call, being friends with a lot of great teachers, curious about how they start trumpet students. There are a number of ways that, on the face of it, might seem arbitrary, but the longer I teach, the more I realize that there are some hounding problems that can be…