I teach one-on-one trumpet lessons as a member of Conservatory Nova Scotia. In-person lessons are held at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts. Due to the current global health situation, I am also currently offering virtual lessons via Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype. Please contact me for more information.
Rates for Lessons
30 minutes
$34/session
45 minutes
$45/session
60 minutes
$56/session
Lesson times: 3-6pm Wednesdays, 3-6pm Thursdays, limited availability Saturdays, and 11am-4pm Sundays
Why study the trumpet?
Learning a musical instrument is a fun, challenging, and rewarding endeavour. The trumpet is used in a multitude of styles, and can play in bands of all types and on its own as a soloist. In my teaching, I focus on several key principles:
Sounding your Best
Nothing on the trumpet is more important than playing with a full, confident sound, with healthy air support and good intonation. I use breathing exercises and active listening and self-reflecting to make sure we’re always playing with ease and striving for the best sound we can make.
Expanding your Skills
There’s plenty of different styles of music out there, and a strong trumpet player is one who’s always willing to try something new and gain new skills. I introduce students to a variety of genres, to help you be as well-rounded and versatile a musician as you can. You never know what new kind of music might become a favourite!
Ensemble Playing
Most performing that students do is as a member of a band, and that takes several skills. I help students work on active listening, to increase awareness and gain the ability to blend with the ensemble and match pitch, rhythm, style, and everything else that can’t be conveyed by ink on a page.
Technical Facility
My approach to technical ability on the instrument is that the word “facility” really is the key – the goal is to make playing the instrument as easy as possible. Scales, arpeggios, lip slurs, metronome use, and dedicated practice are all a must to keep up your improvement and feelings of being at ease on the instrument. Though all of that relies on the very first principle: using healthy air to make the best sound we can.
Playing with Musicality
Every time we play the trumpet, we’re saying something meaningful to our listener. I help students keep engaged in the moment, and encourage dedication to what you want to say. It’s not just about playing the right notes, it’s about playing the notes right.
Sightreading
Along with helping beginning students learn to read music, I put an emphasis on helping students feel confident playing music by sight. Through ear training, rhythm practice, and scales, you gain the tools to be able to approach new music confidently.
Solo Playing
Solo performance gives students a wonderful opportunity to work on expression, colour, and creativity beyond what ensemble playing can achieve. I encourage actively listening to yourself, to figure out how we can make each work sound as good as possible, and to figure out which parameters of the music (tempo, colour, articulation, etc) can be moulded and played with at the creative performer’s will.
Improvisation
When the student is feeling at ease navigating the instrument, using healthy air, and playing in a variety of keys in a solo or ensemble setting, that’s when their creative juices can really begin flowing. Improvisation is a lot of fun, and is a great way to show off the skills that you’ve learned on your journey.
Matt Richard 