A Narrative Perspective on the Study of Select Professional Trumpeters' Experiences: Shaping a Musical Life

Many aspiring young trumpeters the world over share the same purpose: to achieve international acclaim for their art. Each trumpeter seeking such acclaim needs to adopt those skills and characteristics necessary to achieve greatness in performance and maintain a professional career. As master musicians continue to excel in their fields, their students are privileged to learn from their expertise. My career as a performer and educator has been profoundly shaped both by the teachings of my professors and the concerts of internationally acclaimed performers. Concepts of trumpet pedagogy have changed significantly since the early twentieth century. Methods have become increasingly under examination as performance demands have grown. However, there is a lack of research on the personal professional knowledge of trumpet performers. The documentation of this specialist knowledge from the artists themselves is particularly sparse. As a result, only select students have the privilege of gaining this information. In many cases successful musicians often have a small number of protĂŠgĂŠes who receive this wisdom aurally. Although a number of studies focus on specific pedagogical techniques and philosophical ideologies, few studies exist that connect innate methods of pedagogy to the careers of trumpet performers. Moreover, a body of literature that documents the cultural impact on professional and educational development in trumpet performance is lacking. This study seeks to document the professional wisdom of four successful artists so that more students and pedagogues may benefit.This research found that the stories told by professional trumpeters suggest key elements of their success. There are similarities in their pedagogical approaches and innate qualities that are vital to that success. Their teachers have had profound influence on their development. Another common element was an early involvement with music in the family. Cultural backgrounds had some influence on the various pathways to the respective professional careers, but since many professionals aim for acclaim across the globe for their performances, it is not the culture that defines an individual's style, but the person him/herself who grows into his/her own style.

Department dc:contributor.department

Music

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Cigolea, Cristinel Nicuta

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Cameron, Walter

• Performance
• Trumpet

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1807/68215

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utoronto.scholaris.ca:1807/68215