This page is for questions often asked. If you have a question regarding the trumpet or myself, please feel free to email me or post on the guestbook. For questions that are shared with many others, I will post the response on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Teachers I studied with on a weekly basis:
Charlie Lauer: (studied 1980-’87) Freelance trumpeter and teacher in the San Diego area. Charlie is credited for giving me my start and perfect handling for the unusual beginning of my career.
Bernard Adelstein: (1987-’88) 1944-48 Second Trumpet with Pittsburgh Symphony
1948-50 Principal Trumpet Dallas Symphony,
1950-60 Principal Trumpet Minneapolis Symphony,
1960-88 Principal Trumpet Cleveland Orchestra
Bernie was the sole inspiration to attend C.I.M. and continues to be a good friend and mentor.
David Zauder: (1988- ‘92) 1951-’53 Principal Trumpet West Point Band
1955 -’57 Principal trumpet Boston Pops,
1955 - ’61 Solo Cornetist for Leonard B. Smith Concert Band,
1958 - ’98 Second Trumpet/Principal Cornet Cleveland Orchestra
David Zauder has become my role model in music and life. The biggest influence by far for my success and growth.
Other influences are Michael Sachs and James Darling with the Cleveland Orchestra. While I did not take privately with Michael, he did conduct the trumpet and brass classes and they both took time to work with me individually as needed.
Trumpets I Use:
Bb Trumpet: YAMAHA Xeno YTR-8335RG
Cornet: YAMAHA YCR-6335HS
Flugel: YAMAHA YFH-231
C Trumpet: YAMAHA Xeno YTR-8445
C Rotor: YAMAHA YTR-946GS
Eb Trumpet: YAMAHA YTR-9630
Piccolo Trumpet: YAMAHA YTR-9830
Trumpet Books I used in my college studies:
Arbans - Grand Method
Clarke - Technical Studies
Schlossberg - Daily Drills and Flexibility
Brandt – 34 Studies - Orchestral Etudes
Bousquet - 36 Celebrated Cornet Etudes
Charlier – 36 Etudes
Zauder – Embouchure and Technique
Glantz – 48 Studies
Smith – Top Tones
Sachse – 100 Etudes
Bordogni – 24 Vocalises
Concone – Lyrical Studies
Stamp – Warm-up Studies
Irons – 27 Groups of Exercises
Trumpet Influences during my early and student years:
I listened to a lot of trumpet players while growing up. I was fortunate that my father had many records of musicians. But I have to admit that the most influential player growing up was my grandfather and his cornet. Here are other players who influenced me as a child.
Maurice Andre - Perhaps the biggest influence was hearing Maurice play the piccolo trumpet with orchestra. I fell in love with this idea and the sound of the instrument. To this day, certain recordings of Maurice still make me feel like a kid and in love with the trumpet all over again.
Freddie Mills and Ronnie Romm – I listened to every Canadian Brass recording I could get. I loved their musicianship, Ronnie’s style and Freddie’s use of the piccolo and sweet sound. This opened my eyes and ears on what I wanted to be able to do with the trumpet and piccolo…everything!
Harry James – Harry was an influence as I loved his style and music and had several records in our house of his big band. I would listen to him play all styles while always sounding like nobody else…but Harry. The fact that he looked like my grandfather helped too.
Doc Severinsen – One of my favorite records was Doc Severinsen and Henry Mancini ("Brass on Ivory") along with a double LP of Doc’s All-Star Big Band. Not to mention every night I’d stay up to here Doc play the theme song to The Tonight Show and for the hopes that the band would play a number on their own. I loved his style, charisma, sound and passion to perform.
Rafael Mendez - For obvious reasons, Rafael is on this list. For the thrill of listening to his technique, but also making the trumpet a solo instrument with orchestra, big band and any other type ensemble. Growing up in San Diego, I also love Hispanic and Mexican music, which he created the style for me.
Maurice Murphy – I listened for hours to John William soundtracks in the late 70’s and early 80’s, not knowing at the time that it was Maurice playing the trumpet in the orchestra (London Symphony). I have to admit, that this music is what made me fall in love and wanting to play in an orchestra.
Salvation Army Cornet Soloist - My family has a long history with the tradition of the Salvation Army Brass Bands. My Grandfather and Great Aunt were cornet soloist. I can’t tell you all the names of the artists, but the style and music of cornet solos was often played in their homes, and I loved it.
Violin and Cello – This may be an odd entry, but they are my parent’s instruments. Perhaps the combination of falling in love with the trumpet, but having string music played at home gave me the sense of musicianship, love for classical music and the ability to listen and learn from all instruments and styles.
Others - I had many other influences and favorite recordings. How can you be a trumpet player and not have many recordings of Wynton Marsalis. Or Al Hirt, Maynard Ferguson, Clyde McCoy, Chuck Mangione, Louis Armstrong and orchestral recordings of Bud Herseth, Bernie Adelstein, Armando Ghitalla, Gil Johnson and later Phil Smith.
I’ve mentioned great trumpet players in jazz, big band, dixieland, classical soloing and orchestral playing, but I’ve neglected one other style. I also had as many recordings of the group Chicago I could get my hands on. I love their use of horns and memorized all their music. They are great musicians and performers. My thanks to Lee Loughnane for adding the trumpet to a whole other genre of music.
But maybe the biggest influence looking back is Ella Fitzgerald. Nobody makes a musical line like Ella. Listen and learn!
