Elk Grove, CA Trumpet Lessons

n, Steve's musical interests include music theory, arranging, composition, piano ensemble playing and ethnomusicology.

*** Lesson Details ***
I have been teaching children and adults for the past 15 years. I have worked
in public schools as a band instructor, choir director, orchestra director and
general music teacher. I have also taught English and Spanish classes. My private
piano and horn students have enjoyed playing from a wide variety of musical
styles from classical to modern.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Piano

*** Specialties ***
I choose from a variety of publications, depending on the nature of the student. I strive to have my students become well rounded by learning a variety of music literature and learning theory, scales, chord progressions, and integrate sight-reading as a regular component of lessons.

studied with multiple music professors and have learned their most effective teaching methods. I have taken music theory classes that allow me to explain theory in a simplified manner to students. I have been playing guitar since high school and have taken many piano classes while in school, where proficiency is necessary in order to advance in the major. In my free time, I even play drums and multiple other instruments and listen to music constantly. Music is very much my life. This allows me the versatility to teach a variety of instruments and mold myself and my students into well-rounded musicians.

with a variety of bands in my home state of New Mexico, as well as Japan, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Since 2006 I have been an active teacher. This profession has taken me everywhere from working with classical guitar classes in New Mexico high schools to Elementary students in Japan to a variety of private students of various musical instruments and genres everywhere I've been. Since relocating to the Bay Area in 2010, I've had the pleasure of working with lots of great students from kids to adults with a wide range of ambitions. Since 2012 I've been running my own full time studio.

Philosophy of Learning

Lessons are generally designed to work towards giving students the tools to accomplish their goals and become increasingly independent over time. While all students will study similar fundamentals regarding technique, theory, and performance, every lesson is as different as every person. What kind of music do you want to make? I'll tell you what you need to do to get there, and help you take the steps to achieve your aspirations.

I also love to help students put together a song, record, and produce it for them so that they can have a recording to share with their friends and family.

I also hold events for my students. (Check out our pictures and videos below!)
Younger students have opportunities to perform for friends and family at my studio every few months. Once or twice a year we'll also stage a larger event off site for more individual students and bands classes to perform.
Adult students also occasionally have events where they get a chance to get together and play music as well.

Aside from in-studio lessons, students also have the option to sign up for online lessons via Skype.
(*Online lessons offered during different times than in-studio lessons.)

*Unfortunately due to scheduling issues, I'm not currently accepting students for bi-weekly lessons. I can do regular weekly lessons, or occasional drop-in lessons, but bi-weekly appointments make it really hard for me to give the best scheduled times to my existing weekly students. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

My studio is equipped with:

*Music Stands

*A P.A. System

*Vocal and instrument microphones

*Guitars, Basses, Ukulele, Banjos, etc

*Two guitar amps and a bass amp

*Various percussion including a fully equipped acoustic drum set

*A Roland V-Drums electronic drum set

*An electric piano console and Yamaha organ

*A MicroKorg Synthesizer

*A Tuba, Trombone, Cornet, Saxophone, and Flute

*An extensive physical and virtual music library

*A recording system that students are not only welcome to use but encouraged to

*HD Webcam and condenser microphone for high fidelity online lessons via Skype

ning ongoing North American engagements with new collaborations with leading Baroque ensembles in Denmark as well as in the rest of Scandinavia and Europe. In Europe he has played with Camerata Øresund, Copenhagen Soloists, Barokksolistene, Arte dei Suonatori, Höör Barock, Enghave Barok, the Næstved Early Music Festival, Ensemble Hven, and several others.

As a modern trumpeter, Justin has experience performing in orchestras, wind ensembles, jazz ensembles, pit orchestras for opera and musical theater, British brass bands, and numerous chamber ensembles. Before beginning his college career, he was principal trumpeter of the DC Youth Orchestra and had the opportunity to tour Japan as a trumpet soloist. He also performed regularly with the Prince George’s Philharmonic while in high school. More recently, he as appeared as a soloist with the South Dakota Symphony, the Firelands Symphony, and the Las Vegas Sinfonietta.

In addition to be being a trumpeter, Justin is also a countertenor and has sung with Apollo’s Fire and Opera Cleveland. While in Ohio, he was an alto section leader in the chamber and chancel choirs at Trinity Cathedral in downtown Cleveland and was the countertenor with Cantores Cleveland (now Contrapunctus). In addition, Justin briefly served as a bass section leader at Church of the Covenant in Cleveland. Justin also plays recorder.

Justin earned his DMA in trumpet performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He received his MA in early music performance practices from Case Western and his BM in trumpet performance from the University of Maryland. His primary trumpet teachers include Chris Gekker, Barry Bauguess, Steven Hendrickson, Steven Trinkle, and Justin Emerich. He has studied voice with Delores Zeigler, Ellen Hargis, and Aaron Sheehan. As a graduate assistant, Justin taught courses in ear training and music appreciation, and was a harpsichord tuner.

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“The orchestra brought out the pulsy organ-grinder quality in the first movement of Concerto 3, but it was [Brandenburg] Concerto 2 that was the real show-stopper. Justin [B.], on Baroque trumpet, trilled his way nearly effortlessly through one of the most difficult parts in the repertoire, the highest notes piercingly clear above the orchestra.” (Post-Bulletin)

“It [the Baroque trumpet] is more difficult to play than its modern counterpart, but it’s a fascinating and arresting sound. The trumpet part in the second [Brandenburg] concerto is famous for its fiendish difficulties, and Justin [B.] played it with aplomb.” (Edmonton Journal)

“Skilled [Baroque trumpet] players can play the notes of the harmonic series with such instruments. A very refined embouchure is needed to “lip” or flatten or sharpen the impure harmonics of the notes of the 11th and 13th harmonics. The most virtuosic could use such techniques to produce certain chromatic notes outside this series…Justin [B.] made such skills seem effortless…” (Classical Voice of North Carolina)

“…trumpeter Justin [B.] displayed dazzling virtuosity in the solo cantata [“Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen”]…”(Grunion Gazette)

“A good trumpet player is hard to find, and an excellent one harder still. It’s again still rarer to find a great player of the baroque trumpet, since the instrument is considerably harder to play than its modern counterpart (smaller embouchure, no valves) and this may explain why Justin [B.] is so darn busy and why he plays with, well, basically everyone.” (The WholeNote)

et any books that we play through (but I'll give you time to get them, so don't worry.) Any books that we use will be easy to find and won't cost a whole lot of money.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I will always bring my instrument with me when I attend a lesson, so I expect my students to do the same when they come to my studio. Also, make sure you have any books and music that we will be playing out of. I always have a copy of anything that we are playing, so I expect the student to have a copy as well.

*** Specialties ***
Trumpet
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Piano

ceed in something they really work hard for. I believe that every student has their own unique way of learning music. I am patient and understanding, so my lesson plans will be based on the student's ability, personal interests, and goals. We can work on songs that range from Bach to Ella Fitzgerald, Rolling Stones to Adele and Taylor Swift. Music is fun and rewarding. With me, students will develop a strong music education to help them succeed while having fun."

also spent some time playing professionally on Royal Caribbean's cruise ship, Adventure of the Seas.
Currently, Christian D. is employed as a high school instrumental music teacher in the New York State public school system. He also runs his own music studio with around 35 students. Christian specializes in teaching improvisation, saxophone, flute, and clarinet with extensive professional performing careers in each area. He also has 6 years experience teaching and playing double reed and brass instruments both privately and in the public school setting.

*** Lesson Details ***
I like to cater my lessons to the students' wants and needs. I suggest various exercises to study in effort to make each student reach their fullest potential. I have high expectation for every student and push each and every one to achieve their greatest potential, regardless of their goals as a musician.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Selmer Series III Soprano
Selmer C** Mouthpiece with Vandoren Java 4s
Selmer Mark VI Alto
Vintage Berg Larsen with Rico Jazz Select 2H
Selmer Reference Tenor
Vintage Otto Link with Rico Jazz Select 3S
Buffett R13 Clarinet
Brad Behn Mouthpiece with Vandoren 3.5
Armstrong Flute
Casio Privia Piano
MacBook Pro
Zoom Recorder
Smart Music
Finale
Various method books and music

*** Specialties ***
Woodwind Doubling
Jazz
Classical

, tone, sight-reading, endurance, finger technique, musicality, etc. I myself was not the most naturally gifted player out there and I had to really consider how the instrument worked in order to progress. Today, those issues are not problem to me now. There are many fine trumpet players out there who are great musicians but ineffective teachers of fundamentals as they simply never experienced the kinds of problems in their playing that many students unfortunately have. As a student, I too had many teachers like this. They were wonderful people, but not very helpful.

To sum it up, I can show you how to fix the problems in your playing so that you can make the music you want to make.