Trombone Lessons in Los Angeles, CA

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I can't remember a defining moment where I felt like something really kicked in. My junior and senior year in high school I started regularly practicing my trumpet and tuba. I also got my first tuba teacher who opened a lot of aspects of music to me. Because of how much I started to improve during those years, I started taking myself and my playing more seriously. When deciding what I wanted to do in college, I felt like music was my strongest point. I felt it was the right way to go since I had put so much into my playing.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Music has a small history in my family. My brother plays the clarinet, my mom used to play the flute and saxophone, and my dad used to play the saxophone and trumpet. My parents no longer play anymore, however my brother and I still participate in my high school's 4th of July Parade which is open to any musician. My brother and I used to play in high school together in the same concert band and marching band. However I am the only one in my family that actually pursues music professionally however.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
This routine is what I do for tuba since it's what I play on the most. I play Remingtons in my middle all the way down to my extreme low register. I play flexibility exercises like lipslurs. I take a small break because I do the hardest exercises at the beginning. I then do all of my major scales with two octaves. I then do all my minor scales in all forms with two octaves. Right now I'm working on learning my modes too. Specifically I focus on learning one of the dorian modes every three days. Then I play an etude from Bordogni Complete Solfeggi and then I play that etude an octave lower. Then I practice whatever solo piece I'm working on at the time. Right now I'm relearning the Sonata for Bass Tuba and Piano on CC tuba.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
I personally think the hardest thing to learn on trumpet is resonant tone. I cannot begin to express how many trumpeters, students and peers, have a hard time getting the best tone. On tuba the most difficult thing is agility, flexibility, and clarity. Because the instrument is pitch so low, these three things are difficult to achieve. Since I have been practicing regularly for the past four years, I have made significant progress, however I still have a long way to go. This brings up the last point which applies to all kinds of musicians. Something that is difficult to learn is patience.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my maestro award from Heritage Festivals. I received this award in 2012 as a recognition of my achievements in that festival as a soloist. I am one of ten who received this award out of over one thousand other students. That same festival I received an Outstanding Soloist from the California Alliance for Jazz. Later that year I received the Louis Armstrong Award, a nationally recognized jazz award. I also have received multiple merit based scholarships three years in a row from the Cal Poly Pomona Music Department.

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
I have three students who have gone on to lead and teach in their high schools. These students have been recognized by their peers as well as their director. All three have gone on to become section leaders for their marching bands, concert bands, and symphonic bands. One has gone off to college where he has been playing in the concert band there. Another has been pushing for support of his music program at his high school. The other has made so much improvement I have heard from band parents how much he has stepped up his game.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I chose trumpet in Elementary school because I wanted to follow my brother's footsteps as a musician. My dad had an old trumpet so I picked it up and went to class. As the years went on I realized I was quite good at playing music. I tried out other instruments like baritone and french horn. Halfway through high school, the marching band needed tubas, so I switched over and received lessons from a teacher over the summer. I fell in love with tuba when I found out how beautiful and impressive the tuba could be.

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