James B
Instruments: Trumpet
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Blues, Swing
James B
Instruments: Trumpet
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Blues, Swing
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
Towson University, Towson, MD, Bachelor of Music, Jazz Trumpet Performance, December 2012
Selected Performance Experience
Jazz Ensembles (at Towson University)
Towson University Jazz Orchestra, Fall 2009- Fall 2012
Improv Ensemble, Fall 2012
Latin Ensemble, Spring 2009
Orchestral/Band (at Towson University)
Orchestra, Spring 2009
Chamber Music (at Towson University)
Brass Quintet, Fall 2009- 2010
Solo Performances
Junior Degree Recital, Spring 2011
Senior Degree Recital, Fall 2012
Other
Music for the Stage ( Musical Pit Orchestra) December 2012
Performances with Love Unit, February 2012 to present
Performances with Bosley, June 2012 to present
Performances with Friday Night Book Club, November 2011 to present
Church performances for holidays and weddings
Performing and teaching music are passions of mine as they are apart of my everyday life. I have been playing the Trumpet for 14 years and I am proficient in both Jazz and Classical music. I graduated from Towson University in Fall 2012 with a bachelors degree in Jazz Performance. I am excited to expand my musical network by meeting students, peers, and role models alike. My musical influences stem from the experiences with my private teachers as well as the work of legendary musicians. My private teachers inspired me to dedicate myself to music and helped me reach my full potential. Another musical influence of mine is my sister, who is a classical flutist. Seeing her succeed as a musician encourages me to progress my skill and refine my craft. Legendary musicians such as Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington are all sources of inspiration and creativity in the world of music and I draw from those influences as well.
To date I have been teaching trumpet lessons for two years, which began during my senior year of college. Although I've only had a few students, the instruction I've been able to provide has been very rewarding. For students who are less experienced, my focus is to encourage music exploration and to find music that excites young players and grabs their attention. Even though music performance is a challenging craft, it doesn't mean there isn't room for fun! Practicing and performing music provides a rewarding sense of accomplishment and is a great source of confidence building in young people.
Structured lessons are designed to develop technical skills as well as musicality in young musicians. This is achieved through practicing exercises, scales, and etudes in addition to solo repertoire and jazz standards. I believe that every person has a deep understanding of music even though many have different ways of interpreting it. It is my mission to find the method of instruction that is tailored to his students learning style and understanding of music to enable proficient communication.
Teaching music is a task for the highly flexible individual. A teacher should be knowledgeable, experienced, skilled in performance and above all, motivating. An instructor should be able to prepare students for many diverse musical situations, strengthen and develop skills and keep the student excited about the music. Private lessons should always cover the basics such as technique, musicality and tone quality. Basic technical skills are an essential element to any lesson. Whether the student is only first establishing these skills, or seeking further development, I incorporate many finger exercises, scales and etudes in the teaching of technique. I find it necessary to go over with a student (especially a beginning student) how to practice the material on their own. Most students are not taught how to practice, which is the only way to improve. Teaching a student how to work through difficult rhythms is never overlooked. By demonstrating ways to count out rhythms, clap beats and how to write in the counts, students will have a better understanding of how to approach rhythm. Teaching musicality is another important element in lessons. Students should have knowledge of dynamics, phrase structures and musical styles. In order to teach this, I have my students play a wide variety of solos from all style periods. I also encourage them to listen to the piece and often give them recordings and mini listening assignments. Expression is perhaps the hardest area to instruct upon. I find the development of an individual voice essential for their success as a musician. It is necessary to emphasize the emotional and creative aspects of the music by encouraging the students to think of visualizations, stories or emotions while playing. Motivating the students is another challenge. The student needs to be excited about the music and love to play. I encourage students to choose solos and pieces that they are interested in. Lastly, the student needs to feel like you are enjoying the lesson as well. It has been my experience that if the teacher is excited, the student will be too.
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