What do you teach at the Con?
Trumpet and Jazz
What genres do you teach?
Trumpet is an instrument used in a diverse range of musical styles, and I like my students to try to play as many of them as possible! This includes not only jazz and classical music, but also world music and pop. As a jazz-trained and professional improvising musician, I am partial to teaching improvisation and jazz to students who want to explore that music or skills.
What is it that you love about teaching?
I love being able to pass on my passion for music, the trumpet and improvising, and seeing students form their own special and enriching relationships with music and their instrument.
Further, many of my good friends and musical peers are WollCon alumni, who happen to be some of the most amazing musicians in the country. I am very glad to be able to contribute to this incredible institution that has fostered so many world class musicians and great people over the years.
Please share a particular career highlight and why it’s special to you.
Playing 30 metres underground in a decommissioned nuclear reaction hall in the middle of Stockholm, Sweden, whilst on tour with an ensemble I co-lead called Microfiche, would have to be up there!
WHAT’S ONE PIECE OF MUSIC THAT YOU’D RECOMMEND PEOPLE LISTEN TO?
I often come back to this video. Trumpeter Ambrose shows the expressive and technical capabilities of the trumpet, all whilst having one of the most beautiful trumpets sounds ever recorded.
