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 nov 22
Congrats on learning All Through The Night so fast! I’m glad you like it.
I’ll review what we talked about for All through… , I know you have notes but maybe this will help clarify some things.
Good sound and articulation: Practice this always taking full breaths and focusing on your sound. That is what this song is all about. Beauty! Work on it with no articulation, imagine it’s a long tone and you just move your fingers. This will allow you to think about air flow and relaxation…. therefore good sound. When that feels comfortable then add the tongue in – but lightly. Think of articulation as a spectrum. Practice the exercise where you go from short notes to long notes, and vice versa. This will allow you to quickly access that feeling of different types of tonguing.
Rhythmic clarity: Mostly this was really good. Try practicing with a metronome and tapping your foot along with it, that will internalize your natural sense of time. Rememeber the dotted half note and quarter note should both get their indicated length. Also watch for the poco rall and rit sections. Milk it!! Think performance always.
Dynamics: Like I said, I think the dynamics are not indicated well on this chart. Add more in!! Use your musicality to interpret what would sound the best. When you play higher, generally you would want to play louder.. same thing goes for long held notes. Crescendo through them. Where do you want the peak of the piece to be? Where is it the most intense? Consider these things when you add in more dynamics.
Schitt’s Creek theme: You got this. Use your ear and logic to figure it out. I’ll give you a hint. It’s in our B minor. Two sharps… F# and C#… same notes as D major. have fun!
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.
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COMING SOON
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COMING SOON
