As part of the National Trumpet Competition’s "Minute Master Class Series", I’ve recorded three videos to assist players in developing a more open, resonant sound and improving control throughout the range of the horn with exercises geared towards players of all levels.

There’s also footage of my guest performance at this year’s NTC Gala Concert, with the Army Blues accompanying, on the Audio/Video page.

Many thanks to Mark Metrinko for spearheading the "Minute Master Class Series" project and editing all of the videos. You can watch the videos here, and/or visit the National Trumpet Competition website at:

NTC’s “Minute Master Class Series”

http://www.nationaltrumpetcomp.org

Brass Method Book Published!

(in Japan)

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"Big Phat Jam" contest

In May of 2007, there was a contest held by Gordon Goodwin and the Big Phat Band.  The solo I submitted was chosen by Gordon and Wayne Bergeron as the winner, thanks in part to so many of you voting me into the final round.  If you were one of those people -- Thank You!

Their new CD/DVD, “Act Your Age” is now available, and my solo can be found in the “Extras” section of the DVD.

Hopefully they’ll call on me to actually record WITH the band next time.  If that sounds like a good idea to you, you might consider sending Gordon an email....  :-)

To order the Japanese version, visit:

http://www.brasstribe.net

Click the titles below to watch videos

1. "Mouthpiece Buzzing"
   

2. "Half-step Bends"
   

3. "Play DOWN As You Go Up"
   

International Trumpet Guild ‘08

The ITG Conference, June 1-5 in Banff, Canada turned out to be one of the most gratifying and inspiring times of my life.  I met so many awesome people (many of whom also happen to be some of the world’s greatest trumpet players!)  I had an amazing time performing, making new friends, adjudicating the Jazz competition and witnessing so many other world-class performances.

There’s a lot more to say about this awesome experience.  To continue reading on, click here.

"Collab" Opening

After months of extremely hard work, "Collab", an exciting new theatre show combining music and movement, opened in Osaka, Japan and was an incredible experience for both the audience and the cast.

I was shocked at how much the cast members grew as performers in the short time we worked together, and they amazed me every day with their strong work ethic and dedication to excellence. The tireless, hard work and expertise of the creative team and staff was also incredibly inspiring - some of us often worked 20+ hours a day!

Because of the many roles I played: co-creator; composer/arranger; musical director; teacher; sound designer and performer, I found the ability to push far past my previous limits and work harder than I ever have in my life. This show was the most gratifying project I've ever been a part of.

MANY thanks to everyone involved - especially Bobby Ohtsuki, Hide Kanbayashi and Naoki Ishikawa. I'm looking forward to a very bright future for "Collab"!

http://www.collab.cc

"Blast!" '07 Japan Tour

The ’07 Blast tour has ended, although I wish we were touring together for a much longer period of time. It was by far my favorite tour in all of the seven years I’ve been with the company.

I don’t know if I’ll return with “Blast!” in the future, but I’ll certainly make an announcement here on the website once I’ve decided.

Now it’s time for me to focus on all of the things I want to accomplish with my solo career. I’m really excited to start this new chapter in my life, and to begin recording new music that reflects my experiences from this summer. All of the incredible new friendships I’ve made and the amazing times I’ve had on this tour have filled me with strong emotions and lots of creative inspiration.

Now for some “Thank You’s”....

“Thank you” to all the fans who have been so generous with your gifts. I’m sorry I haven’t had the time to personally thank every one of you. Please know how much your kindness means to me.

I want to thank all of the amazing teachers at the Bikram Yoga studio in Ginza (and especially my great friends, Megan McKinney and Lynn Plankis) for their guidance, and helping me to understand that Yoga is such an invaluable part of my life.

I also want to thank my good friend Enomoto-san for doing such a great job with publishing my brass method book, “Rapa-Do”. It was a pleasure to make this book with him, and I hope those of you who own it find it to be extremely helpful and enjoyable.

“Thank you” to Bobby Ohtsuki for once again providing me and some of my friends with really fun times in Japan.

I want to express my gratitude to the Phiten company. Their products have given many of us in the cast some much needed relief from pains, muscle tension and fatigue. “Thank you” to Ayumi-san at the Ginza store for being so incredibly helpful with us; to Hayashi-san and Nomura-san for their great generosity, and the staff at the Phiten Support System for their amazing skills! From all of us in “Blast!” who have benefitted from your incredible products, “Kansha-shite-imasu!”

And I especially want to thank this special cast and crew of “Blast!” for bringing me so much joy and inspiration this summer. I’ll always be grateful for the time we’ve spent together.

With Love and Gratitude,

Adam

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I'm really excited to announce that the Japanese translation of my brass method book/CD has been published and is now for sale in music stores across Japan.

"The Professional Mouthpiece Player" offers extensive knowledge to make brass playing more effortless, precise and consistently great.

Written in simple language, it can guide players of all levels toward playing with true efficiency, so that even the extraordinarily "difficult" becomes simple routine.

"The Professional Mouthpiece Player" will eventually be available in English, but as a DVD rather than a book.  I've already gotten a surprising number of requests for the book, and although the project is on the back burner at the moment, it will definitely be worth the wait. Stay tuned for more news....

2008’s already really turning out to be a great year!  In March I was a featured guest artist at the ’08 National Trumpet Competition at George Mason University, and had an awesome time.  It feels really good to be at a gathering of so many friendly and talented people sharing the love of music and the trumpet.

I premiered my adaptation of an organ piece by Cesar Franck, “Opus 20 Choral #3”, which I arranged as a trumpet concerto with large brass ensemble accompaniment.  The piece brought me way outside of my comfort zone, so it was an incredible relief to get such an ovation from the audience -- it was a hit!  I wiped a lot of sweat from my brow after that one...  You’ll have a second chance to hear it at the ITG conference in June.

I also gave two master classes in partnership with Vince DiMartino, which was also a lot of fun. Vince is a great teacher and an awesome guy -- and between the two of us, the audience got one HECK of a master class!  TWICE!!

National Trumpet Competition ‘08

http://www.nationaltrumpetcomp.org

For more information, visit:

In response to all of the requests I’ve gotten from around the world inquiring about private lessons, I’ve launched a convenient new service, iBrass - private lessons ONLINE.  You can now receive one-on-one, world-class instruction - anywhere, anytime.

With iBrass, we can interact through a video chat, where we’ll be able to see and hear each other play clearly.  All you need is a webcam for your computer. 

If you’re interested in finding out what an iBrass session looks and feels like, watch the demo with Dave Monette, then for more details....

Visit the iBrass page.

Introducing “iBrass”

Watch the iBrass demo w/ Dave Monette

ITG ’08 - Part 1

ITG ’08 - Part 2

ITG ’08 - Part 3

Click the titles below to watch videos

Click to hear the solo

“National Anthem” Honor

For 20 + years, throughout the 70’s and 80’s, Dallas Cowboys fans had the pleasure of hearing the “Star Spangled Banner” played by Tommy Loy on trumpet for their home games at Texas Stadium.  Tommy has since passed away, and that tradition was replaced with vocal renditions of the National Anthem.

Getting ready to move into their new stadium, the Cowboys played their final game at Texas Stadium on Saturday, December 20th.  To honor their old tradition, pay homage to Tommy and treat their diehard fans to a walk down memory lane for the final game, they called me to play the Anthem.

67,000 people were in attendance and millions watched on the NFL Network.  

No pressure...

WHAT A RUSH!!

National Anthem (short)

National Anthem (full)

Click the titles below to watch videos

Usually this page is reserved for what’s happening with my career, but right now I’d like to focus on two other very exciting careers....

Natalie Dungey is an incredibly gifted young trumpet player (only 10 years old!) who I’ve had the honor and great pleasure of mentoring for a year now.  She was already phenominal for her age when we met, so I can’t take too much credit.  Her dad is also a trumpet player and her mom is a violinist and pianist, and she couldn’t have asked for a better environment.

But ultimately, as with any artist, Natalie is the one putting in the time, often waking up early to practice for an hour before school in addition to her regular practice routine, and doing everything it takes to become truly great.  The credit goes to her.

The big news is that Natalie just won the 2009 National Trumpet Competition - Junior Division! 

The cutoff for this division is the 9th grade, which means Natalie was competing with players

up to 5 years older!!  The other two finalists were both 9th graders.  Natalie’s in the 4th grade. 

I’ve never heard anyone play like her at such a young age - ever.  There’s musicality and wisdom well beyond her years that is simply mind-blowing.  Remember the name: Natalie Dungey.  Well, if you don’t, that’s OK too.  It’ll be everywhere before too long....

Congratulations Natalie Dungey!

Congratulations Robin Seitz!

Congratulations are also in order for another great young trumpet player, 14 year old Robin Seitz, who won second place in the same competition.  He’s another very hard working and dedicated player.  It’s really inspiring to have such awesome young players like Robin and Natalie in my life.

Since Robin lives near Portland, Oregon, we’ve been connecting online via iBrass lessons instead of meeting in person.  I’ve really enjoyed working with him and I’m looking forward to following his success in the years to come.

New CD, “One of Our Own” Released!

Last summer, a great friend of mine from the cast of “Blast!”, Mike Welch, suffered a terrible bicycle accident, shattering two vertebrae and leaving him paralyzed below the chest. 

In order to raise the money for Mike’s treatment, some past and present members of the cast of “Blast!” have created a compilation CD entitled

“One of Our Own”. 

The album is available for download on iTunes.

I have two songs on the album and took part in producing it.

PLEASE support our efforts to help our dear friend buy purchasing the album now, and please spread the word far and wide among your friends, family, co-workers, students.... everyone. 

It’s a wonderful album and a wonderful cause. 

Thank you.