09/10/2026
Today, RC came to our lesson with a cornet solo he wanted to work on. We had decided to explore a little New Orleans style, so I started sight-reading it with him.
And somewhere in the middle of the lesson, I realized something: I haven’t had this much fun making music in years.
Through the Trumpet Academy, my students have slowly brought me back to the cornet and introduced me to musical worlds I hadn’t explored in a long time—brass bands, ragtime, New Orleans jazz, wind ensemble repertoire, and so much more.
They bring me new music, new ideas, new mouthpieces to try, and new reasons to pick up my instruments simply because I’m curious.
We often think teaching means being the one who gives knowledge. But my students have taught me that it goes both ways.
They keep me curious. They keep me learning. And, somehow, they have helped me fall in love with making music all over again.
Today, I was reminded of how beautiful that is.
I’m deeply grateful for every musician who has become part of this journey.
