Project Description
B.Mus (Humber College)
A recent graduate of Humber College, Matt has quickly established himself as a respected performer in the city’s music scene. While at Humber, Matt had the opportunity to study with some of Canada’s finest jazz and commercial musicians; Brian O’Kane, Alistar Kay, Shelly Berger and Andy Ballantyne, to name a few.
As an active member in the freelance community, Matt’s playing has taken him to such venues as Roy Thompson Hall, The Rex Hotel and the Jazz Bistro. You can find him leading his own trio in intimate venues around the city, or playing with many different jazz, funk or brass bands around the GTA and other Southern Ontario areas.
Get to know Matt…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: Cooking, golf, & coffee making
Musical influences: Clifford Brown, Leroy Jones, Clark Terry, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Chicago
Favourite food: Fish burrito
Least favourite food: My mom’s rice – although, everything else she makes is excellent.
Favourite music: Jazz
Favourite song: It’s Always You
Favourite movie: Spirited Away
Favourite movie music: Indiana Jones Theme
Favourite musical theatre/opera: West Side Story
Best quote from your teacher: “BLOW!” – Alistar Kay
Favourite quote: “They teach you there’s a boundary line to music. But, man, there’s no boundary line to art.” – Charlie Parker
Favourite book: Last Wish – Andrzej Sapkowski
Best thing about teaching at ABC: Sharing my passion for music with youth
Latest Homework from Matt
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Homework for Jan 20
Abi:
Continue to incorporate those articulation/ slurring exercise in you practice sessions! Those are sounding a lot better and they sound like they’re improving your playing already.
Nice job on Theme from New World Symphony. Beautiful tone throughout. Again, just the small details need work. Focus on articulation consistency, dynamics and if you get comfortable, vibrato as well!
Next week have In The Hall of The Mountain King ready! I’d love to hear a relatively clear accelerando and dynamic contrast throughout. Remember, short articulation as well. Have fun!
Matt:
This week try to spend some more time on the fundamentals we do. Lip slurs will make trumpet playing feel much more efficient and make your tone much more rich! Keep that up. Same with the chromatic scale. That will solidify your knowledge of all the fingerings which makes everything easier. Have the D chromatic scale ready for next week.
Etude in G Major is coming along well. Thanks for slowing it down and workshopping it with me. When you get all the articulation together is sounds way better, and you can build the speed up from there. Remember the short notes you want to have a clean start so make sure you tongue right behind your teeth, not the top of your mouth. Have patience and this will continue to come together nicely.
Etude in D minor is similar. Keep it slow! You’re playing it faster than the written tempo so you really need to bring it back when you’re working on it. If you can have the next two lines ready for next week that would be great. Take it note by note when you’re sight reading it just to get everything perfect.
Homework for Jan 17th
Scales!! Ahh!!!!
This is a big topic. I think you began to understand a little bit of what I was talking about. I’ll review (hopefully) most of what we chatted about this lesson. The main concept here I was trying to get at is major scale + alterations = new scale. If you remember that formula you’ll easily be able to analyze and learn any scale. For example C maj + b7 & b3 = Dorian. This is where thinking about scales in numbers really comes in handy. Try to have that going in the back of your head at all times.
Heres a quick list of the major modes and the alterations. For next week, I want to hear one Mixolydian scale and one Lydian Scale.
Major/ Ionian: It’s just a major scale
Mixolydian: b7
Dorian: b7 b3
Natural Minor/ Aeolian: b7 b3 b6
Phrygian: b7 b3 b6 b2
Locrian: b7 b3 b6 b2 b5
Lydian: #4
We also talked about pentatonic scales, which are major/ minor scales with notes removed. Lots of pop tunes use pentatonic scales for melodies so by learning these you’ll be able to easily pick up on some pop melodies by ear.
Nice job on Theme from New World Symphony. You sight read that pretty well. Good for you! For next week, I want to hear a more polished version. Emphasize the dynamics and articulation while practicing this to make it sound alive. This is more important than the notes and rhythms! Continue to sight read some new songs from your book if you would like.
Preferred Books for Matt’s Students
Click to buy them here, and they’ll come right to your house! What could be easier?
Technical Studies
This work has been especially written to enable the cornet student to conquer any technical difficulties he or she might encounter in the literature for the instrument. By carefully following the instructions in this book, the student will build up strength and endurance without strain or injury to his embouchure. If this lips remain flexible and the tone is not forced, it will be possible to play easily any note, regardless of the register.
Arban Complete Conservatory Method
The New Authentic Edition of Arban’s Complete Conservatory Method contains the same tried and true comprehensive system of study that Arban developed over a century ago, and this completely re-engraved edition has been painstakingly edited by prominent trumpet performers and teachers Thomas Hooten and Jennifer Marotta, adding some of their own insights with respect to how trumpet is taught today. The Arban Complete Conservatory Method is the definitive must-have for all trumpet players.
BOOK TITLE
COMING SOON
BOOK TITLE
COMING SOON
