CLINIC NOTES

Over the 30 plus years that Pete Olstad has spent playing trumpet and trying to learn how to be better at it, Pete Olstad has studied with many different trumpet teachers. Pete's teachers over the years have been as follows; Bob Montgomery, Ray Kowtwica, Ray Copeland, Carmine Caruso, William Pfund, William Vacchiano, Bobby Shew, Uan Racey, Bobby Findley, George Graham, Charley Davis, Roy Stevens, Jerome Callet and James Grafmeyer. Quite a line up !

Pete relates, "They all have given me different insights on how to play certain things. I have learned something from them all." Pete states, "Confidence in playing is a direct product of being prepared for whatever might come your way in any given playing situation. Learning as many different styles, sight reading many different styles, and being ready physically for whatever might come your way is crucial for a good performance."

One method that Pete has used consistently over the years is the Louis Maggio System For Brass. Pete relates, "This is a good starting off point for students to learn how to play efficiently. I really don't endorse one system over another however. I like how my chops feel after doing the warm-up and I also like doing chromatic scales at a very soft volume. This seems to "set" my chops for just about anything that might come my way. Also I like to practice in the high register very, very soft. To really find the note via soft playing will make playing at a louder volume much more stable. I also like working out of the Arbans and Schlossberg books as well."


"I can only speak from my experiences, but this seems to me to be a great way to make a living. I have traveled the world, played on some of the greatest stages and concert halls that there are, and seen a large portion of the world not as a tourist, but as a working musician. As an aspiring trumpet player, my advice would be to first figure out what you want out of life, and if playing trumpet fits into your scheme, proceed to learn and practice as much as you can. Always try to better yourself, find your own sound and style, and at the same time be as versatile as possible. Seek out the best players and study with them. Learn from the best people that are out there. Strive to be a better trumpet player every day."

- PETE OLSTAD