Advice · Education · Interview

Trumpet Artist Profile: Mario Guarneri

Mario Guarneri will be known to many readers as a performer and educator of the highest calibre. A former member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Mario is also in demand as educator and lecturer on the pedagogical concepts involved with his groundbreaking designs and the trumpet in general. Here he shares with me some thoughts on approaching different stylistic challenges both as a player and a teacher.

Education · Interview

Johnny Thirkell : Horn Camp 2019

Johnny Thirkell is one of the great unsung heroes of the music industry. With a truly prolific recording output, his trumpet features on thousands of hits over the past thirty odd years. To find out more about Johnny, please follow this link to read this great interview (even if I do say so myself!) that… Continue reading Johnny Thirkell : Horn Camp 2019

Gear Review · Interview

Van Laar Trumpets : Interview and Instrument Overview

Interview with Hub Van Laar (June 2018 @ ITG Conference, San Antonio) What made you want to play brass in the first place? As a child you had 2 options in my village. I began by playing football, and in my first game I scored 3 goalsโ€ฆ in the wrong direction! It was then decided… Continue reading Van Laar Trumpets : Interview and Instrument Overview

Advice · Education · Interview

Trumpet Artist Profile: Marvin Stamm

Marvin Stamm is a colossus of the music world, having performed and recorded with many jazz legends throughout his illustrious career. At 79-years-young, he is still going strong and and has many interesting thoughts here on adapting to change, both musically and physiologically over the years. There is sound and compelling advice here for musicians of all instruments and of all ages!

Advice · Education · Interview

Professional Development : Kate Amrine

When I left music college (nearly) 20 years ago, the approach to building a healthy portfolio of freelance work as a trumpeter was rather different to now: ย Face-to-face networking; Being in โ€œthe right place at the right timeโ€ with the right people; Backing up any opportunities by being a โ€œgood guy to have aroundโ€ and a good player. ย This was the limit to oneโ€™s self-marketing. It struck me at the time that even when things were busy, and the diary was booked up a couple of months ahead, there was never a feeling of being in control and having โ€˜ownershipโ€™ (this seems to be the buzz word) of your career.ย  This is what led me to start to explore other things that I could do alongside the trumpet-playing that could bring me more of a sense of control over my own career. Speaking to younger professionals now, I see quite a different picture.ย  The opportunities that the internet has brought are vast, and musicians are quickly learning how to maximise what it has to offer.ย Players now have limitless control over their own image and career. ย This series looks at this in more detail: Next up in 'Part 2' to help me look at this in more depth is Kate Amrine. ย Kate is a trumpet player and educator based in New York City. ย She currently freelances in many different genres from Orchestra to Broadway, and also is an active soloist, currently working on her second album. ย Music entrepreneurship has always been an interest and she recently presented her "Designing your Career in Music" masterclass at New York University where Kate has been an Adjunct Professor since 2013.

Gear Review · Interview

Trumpet Artist Profile: Massimo Longhi

After visiting the Arena in the beautiful city of Verona some 20 years ago, I have been fascinated by not only its history but its use today as one of the most spectacular opera venues that you will ever visit.ย  Built nearly 2,000 years ago, this outdoor amphitheatre could accommodate over 30,000 spectators, attracting audiences from across the Roman Empire. What would it be like to work here as Principal Trumpet with its resident orchestra?ย  Well Massimo Longhiย knows!ย  He has held this position for 25 years now and has kindly shared his thoughts with us.

Advice · Education · Interview

Professional Development : Becca Toft

When I left music college (nearly) 20 years ago, the approach to building a healthy portfolio of freelance work as a trumpeter was rather different to now:  Face-to-face networking; Being in โ€œthe right place at the right timeโ€ with the right people; Backing up any opportunities by being a โ€œgood guy to have aroundโ€ and… Continue reading Professional Development : Becca Toft