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Active - Public

Trumpet

Hello and welcome to my studio! 

As a music educator, I facilitate a safe, welcoming environment for students to learn and attain their goals. 

With over 10 years of teaching experience, your lessons will be uniquely designed to suit your goals and ambitions. Whether you are brand new, played for a few years, or coming back to the horn after some time off.

You will grow your creative capabilities by exploring music that challenges you to become a better musician.  I incorporate music that you want to play while still going over the fundamentals of your instrument, all so you can gain the most out of lessons and have fun!

All this being said, I'm glad you have decided to take lessons and look forward to helping you create great music!  

Welcome back to the trumpet! 

Whether you are picking back up the trumpet as a hobby outside of work or want to start a new career path playing music, we will work together to build up your trumpet chops bigger and better than ever before!

We will go over the necessary tools for getting back into trumpet playing, including breathing, posture, and all the basics we learned back in our first few years of playing.  

But this should only take a few minutes. Afterwards, we will work on getting you where you want to be through specialized practice routines and expert advice on playing pitfalls (too much pressure, high notes/range, etc.)

At the end of each class you will leave with new concepts and ideas to apply in your everyday practice.  And lastly, music is fun. Enjoy picking back up the horn whether you plan to make money performing or join a community group and enjoy the music with your community.

I look forward to seeing you in my studio and as always, happy practicing!

Re-Learn Trumpet!

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is an honors organization that recognizes and elevates high achievers. NSCS provides career and graduate school connections, leadership and service opportunities and gives out a million dollars in scholarships annually. NSCS members are deeply committed to scholarship, leadership and service and as a result, are impacting their campus and local communities every day.

The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation's premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921.

Founded in 1907, NAfME is among the world’s largest arts education organizations. NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers.

Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) is the professional association for the school music teachers of Maryland. MMEA is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit association incorporated in the State of Maryland. MMEA's mission is to advance music education in Maryland schools. We do this by providing professional development for music teachers, involving students and teachers in opportunities for excellence through state-wide music activities and events, and serving as an advocate for music education.

Duke Ellington Festival Honorable Mention Award for Best Solo

Louis Armstrong Jazz Award

The John Philip Sousa Band Award

Temple University Duke Ellington Festival Honorable Mention

Brass Talent Award

The Charles C. Freitag Award

Diamond Key Award

James L. Dunbar Jr. Memorial Scholarship Competition

Maryland Music Educator Certification

On top of teaching privately since 2013, I now teach 4th and 5th grade band and strings, focusing on developing their fundamentals and having fun learning new instruments!

Elementary General Music and Instrumental Instructor

Perform various pieces ranging from 1800's to current, including Vivaldi and John Williams.

Brass Ensemble Trumpeter

Performing numerous works from early 1900's to current, ranging from Beethoven to Maslanka.

Classical Trumpeter

The Bachelor Boys Band provides live band services for weddings , corporate parties, and more intimate jazz or classical ceremony music. We perform throughout VA, MD, and PA!

Wedding Band Trumpet Player

Professional Big Band performing music ranging from Ellington to Modern big band charts.  Performed numerous concerts and festivals throughout the Maryland area.

Jazz Solo/Lead Support Trumpet

Assist high school students learn music, drill, and artistic effects to make a phenomenal show which nationals competitions, 4 years in a row.

Marching Band Teaching Assistant

During my time with The Upstarters, we performed a wide variety of music raging from rock, funk and ska in the Baltimore/DC/Pennsylvania//Virginia areas.

Rock Trumpeter

I perform with the St. Clements Worship band every Sunday.  What better way to show your love for music than at your local church!

Gospel Trumpeter

Led sectionals for a 40+ member trumpet section, and breathing/warmup routines for a 200+ member band.  Assisted individual members in tone quality, rhythmic dexterity, and sight reading ability.

Marching Band Section Leader

With over 10 years of experience teaching privately, I have enjoyed every minute making music with students and helping them achieve their goals.  Let's play!

Private Instructor

English

***Price Reduced for Summer Lessons! Prices will go back up soon!

60 min, normally $80, now ONLY $65
45 min, normally $65, now ONLY $55
30 min, normally $50, now ONLY $40

The Trumpet is an exciting, expressive instrument and I am joyful to be a part of some truly spectacular results from my students!  My lesson plans are designed for all ability levels ranging from complete beginner to professional performer.  They will help you with tuning, range, endurance, rhythm, but most importantly keep your chops (lips) in healthy condition (no-one wants to hurt after playing music!) I promise results.


My Trumpet students learn songs they have always wanted while learning how to sound great.
-	Proper breathing/compression
-	Playing resonant without playing louder
-	Articulation styles
-	Range development (Low and High notes)
-	Personal interpretation
-	Brass maintenance routines
-	Live performance tips
-	Lead/Jazz/Big Band music
-	Classical solo/Concert Band/Wind ensemble repertoire
-	Simple-to-Complex Rhythms
-	Soloing over chords/modes
-	Flexibility

All my students learn:
-	Sight reading
-	Music Theory
-	Ear training

Andrew has really helped my son improve his skills. Have been doing weekly lessons for around a year and Andrew has helped with school band work and has also provided practice assignments and recommendations. My son recently tried out for the high school band as an incoming freshman and made 3rd chair out of the 17 person trumpet section. No doubt in my mind that weekly lessons with Andrew helped my son achieve that.

Luke was really excited to work with someone with a specialized background in trumpet - something that is very difficult to find in our area. He got lots of new feedback and learned so much in just one session. Excited for him to learn more!

Yet another great lesson.  Thanks so much!

Very personable and professional.  Great first lesson and I look forward to many more.  Recommended for sure!

Andrew has lots of experience on the trumpet, and can give quick and effective solutions to help you become a better musician.

I love working with Andrew!!  He always has great feedback for me and gives me tools that I can use right away to improve my playing.  I’ve been playing trumpet for over 20 years but thanks to our work together I feel like I’m just really starting to understand the fundamentals of using breath, articulation and position to create a beautiful sound.

Mr. Giska is a wonderful teacher, he has provided many helpful tips and guidance to my son.  My son was hoping to get into an advanced band program and did!  We feel like that was the result of his time spent with Mr. Giska.  Thank you!!

My student told me that they got techniques to improve tone and playing that were immediately applicable from the FIRST lesson. My student is prone to nerves and Mr. Giska has helped him with practicing and feeling less nervous. My student continues to find his lessons valuable and relevant.


Great communication, willing to help, and relevant useful teaching!

Andrew is without question an incredible trumpet teacher.  I've been playing on and off for more than 40 years and had fairly recently picked it back up (3 years ago).  He was clear about setting goals and laying out a plan to reach them.  He's helped me in every aspect of playing (range, endurance, tone, sight reading, and style).  He is the "go-to" teacher if you really are serious about improving your playing.

Fantastic teacher who is an expert in the field of all that is brass. Although my lessons were online, he put in great effort to help me conquer all my trouble areas with great detail. He is very flexible with timing and humble. 

In exactly 1 year I developed my skills very rapidly and that is all thanks to Andrews method of teaching. I am very pleased to have improved at this rate given the deceiving nature of the instrument. 

Andrew caters the lessons according to the players needs and goals which is very neat. He will also introduce you to many beautiful and yet challenging pieces that will help improve every angle in your playing, from slurring difficult intervals to high notes as well! 

If you are a beginner just picking up the horn or a well seasoned player, I assure you that you can learn a thing (or four) from this instructor. I look forward to every lesson I have with him. 

I cant recommend him enough!

My son has taken weekly lessons with Andrew for 18 months. He has learned from Andrew how to play trumpet and gradually gained his basic skills and confidence in instrument performance. Andrew helped him go through multiple auditions and got him into the best Youth Symphony Orchestra in the region and opened his eyes that he can play his trumpet as part of an orchestra on the premier stage. We really appreciate Andrew's teaching and mentoring. Thank you!

Andrew has taught my sone for 18 months. He learned from Andrew how to play trumpet and gradually gained his basic skills and confidence in instrument performance. Andrew helped him go through multiple auditions and got him into our local best Youth Symphony Orchestra and opened his eyes that he can play his trumpet as part of an orchestra on Seattle's premier stage at Benaroya Hall. Andrew is a knowledgable teacher with patience and kindness and always encourage kids to push the limit. We full lucky to have Andrew teaching our son. Thank you!

Our son started taking a weekly lesson with Andrew in August.  He looks forward to the lessons each week, is challenged, held accountable, and provided with a great role model as a musician.  It has been enjoyable to hear our son's development over the past few months.

Articulations are EASY, and this exercise makes playing high, low, and everywhere in between even EASIER! Watch the video and try it out for yourself!

Easy Articulation Exercise!

Do you like jazz? Let’s learn some jazz licks to add to your solo vocabulary.  Transpose these licks to different keys and have even more fun creating new ideas. Don’t forget to show off to your friends and family!

See you soon!

Play Jazz Licks! - “The Lick”

Let’s learn some more scales! We’ll focus on 3 new scales and tips to play them. Watch some of my other scale videos to learn more!

See you in my studio soon!

Learn Scales! F#, C#, G#/Ab Major

Do you want to have better range? How about better tone? This video goes through how to use your air to play better on trumpet.  Try some of the ideas, then go to your trumpet and play something you normally do.  Does it sound better now? You won't know unless you try.

See you in my studio!

Use Air to Play Better on Trumpet!

Do you want to learn more scales? This lesson goes over the D - G - A major scales, their key signatures, and their fingerings.  Grab your trumpet and let's get started!

Play G-D-A Major Scales!

Do you want to learn more scales? This lesson goes over the C - F - Bb major scales, their key signatures, and their fingerings.  Grab your trumpet and let's get started!

Play the C - F - Bb Major Scales!

This video summarizes everything we learned in the fundamental videos. After this video, you are ready to start adding the trumpet into your playing! If you want to now more about fundamentals, I recommend watching my Fundamental videos on TakeLessons Live.  

See you soon!

New Trumpet Players: Introduction Review

Now that we have learned how to mouthpiece buzz, and match pitch, let's play an exercise! This exercise is very easy and I guide you through it so that you have fun. 

See you soon!

Mouthpiece Buzzing Exercise 1

Ahhh yes, the glorious high notes of trumpet.  Every trumpet player's dream is to play a double high c with ease.  Well to be honest, it does take time and work, but you can do it! This video goes over some tips on how to begin improving your upper register and getting closer to your high note goals.

See you in the video!

Play High Notes on Trumpet!

Trumpet playing is easy, but sometimes can be a big pain in the behind.  This class goes over some fun and entertaining tricks you can do to make playing the trumpet easier, better your sound, and make it fun!

See you in the video!

Make Trumpet Playing Easier!

Do you have a hard time getting your sound to be open, warm, and dark? Does it feel hard to play high notes? In this lesson, Andrew goes over how to better your breathing to improve your sound and help make your upper register feel easier.  After all, air is the key to creating good tone.

Let's Go!

How to Improve Your Sound on Trumpet!

Is your current trumpet not working for you? Are you due for an upgrade?  In this video, we will go over how to choose the best trumpet for you; what to look for, how to test them out, and some professional models to start trying out.  Let's go!

Re-Learn Trumpet! - Trumpet Class

About Andrew G.

Andrew's Trumpet videos