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 Nov 4
Abi:
Continue to warm up with those long tones, I’m glad you do those. Try them a little longer and with added dynamics as well! Remember to do the lip slurs as well. Those will be great for your range and control.
Major scales: Using the Circle of Fifths and your ear is a great way to go through all the scales. Take your time with these, theres no race! Just do the fingerings first then put the horn to your face. Get F,Bb,G & D comfortable with a metronome at 60bpm for our lesson next week. Fell free to do more if you want.
New Duets: Arabian Song should be a good challenge for you. It’s simpler then it seems but the challenge comes from the register and articulation. Take it slow, even out of time, and slowly build it up with the metronome to get the proper rhythms. I’m pretty sure my recording is at 95 bpm so aim for that when using a metronome.
Matthew:
Mouthpiece warm up: This is a great exercise to warm up with. Take a full breath – without tension – and buzz through the mouthpiece. Explore playing softly, loudly, and moving the pitch around; you can also work on tonguing here. This will help you get comfortable all over the horn.
Lip Slurs: Nice job with these ones. Slurring up four notes can get tricky and I think you’re close to getting it down. Just think about speeding the air up and close you lips a little bit to get up to those higher notes… crescendoing through it will help a lot as well. Another important thing to note is to try to relax!! You look like you’re really in pain when you’re doing these. Just take your time and move from note to note ONLY when they feel comfortable.
Duets: These will be great for your playing. They in a good register and they have a very friendly range & key signature. Try to work through Russian Hymn and if your get it comfortable enough, play along with the recording I put in the Google Drive. Listen for tuning, phrasing and where I breathe. Try to match me as best as you can!
RCM tunes: The RCM rep I think would be the best to work on would be… From list A: The Saint Cathrine, and from list B: All through the night. Alternative options could be German Dance in D major, and My Bonnie.
Google Drive Link
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DZdYvu1GP-lQXJqVq22ABrjqgY_g53oe?usp=sharing
Duet Sheet Music:
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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