TBJ132: Phil Snedecor on diagnosing playing issues, his new publications and the challenges of small-holed instruments. Phil returns to the show to share even more wisdom and shares takeaways from his studies with Arnold Jacobs.
From his bio:
Phil Snedecor is Associate Professor of Trumpet at the Hartt School (of the University of Hartford) in Hartford, CT, and a former faculty member at The Peabody Conservatory, George Mason University and at Towson University. He has written a series of brass etude books that are required repertoire at many colleges and conservatories. His arrangements and compositions have been performed throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Phil attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he received the prestigious Performers Certificate and was a member of the premiere brass quintet, the Canterbury Brass. While earning his degrees in trumpet performance and literature, he also studied arranging and composition with Professor Rayburn Wright, formerly arranger for Radio City Music Hall. Mr. Snedecor is a former member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and has held one-year positions with the National Symphony, the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and the Baltimore Opera. He is Principal Trumpet in the Harrisburg (PA) Symphony Orchestra and former Co-Principal Trumpet in the Concert Artists of Baltimore. Mr. Snedecor has performed and toured throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
In 1993 Mr. Snedecor and National Symphony Principal Trombonist Milton Stevens co-founded The Washington Symphonic Brass, a 17-piece professional brass ensemble. They perform regularly for the Washington National Cathedral, St. Matthew's Cathedral, the Basilica at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and with the Washington Choral Arts Society at the Kennedy Center. They were the official instrumental ensemble for the Papal visit of 2008 in Washington DC and are heard regularly in their own concert series in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Their critically acclaimed CDs are available on the Summit and Warner Classics labels. Phil's innovative programming and arranging for the WSB has led to several guest conductor appearances, most recently with the River City Brass Band (Pittsburgh) and the Breckenridge (CO) Brass.
As a show player, he has performed in the touring productions of Guys & Dolls, Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, Evita and West Side Story. He has recorded under the RCA, CBS, Gothic, Koss, and Summit labels. Phil's solo CDs, The Lyrical Trumpet I and II are also available on the Summit Label.
In 2012, Mr. Snedecor founded the DC Pops Orchestra, a 30-piece ensemble featuring some of the best Jazz and crossover artists in the region. This group has provided music for the elite of Washington in prestigious venues such as the National Building Museum and Mellon Auditorium.
In this fun and lively discussion, we cover:
- #picklesforjeff
- Phil's triumphant return
- His gig at Hartt
- Hearing auditions
- Diagnosing problems with new students
- Studying with Arnold Jacobs
- Helping students become more efficient
- Effortless playing
- Translating Jacobs' ideas to trumpet playing
- Small-holed instruments
- Efficiency vs. effort
- Moo-ing into the horn
- Faux whistling
- No exploding heads
- Tuda
- Sean Reusch FB post
- Parker Mouthpieces, what kind of hole can we design for you?
- Phil's new tuba book
- Dave Zerkel
- Phil's other etude books
- The difference in how he marketed the two tuba books
- The importance of video in promoting his materials
- The gear he used to make his new videos and recordings
- Multi-clam clips
- Editing Engenuity by Anthony DiLorenzo's trumpet concerto with the Harrisburg Symphony
- Teaching himself video editing
- Life is figuring stuff out
- Curiosity is key
- Creating your own "thing"
- The importance of asking questions
- Ego-based fear
- Banff
- Wayne Gretzky
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Expertly produced by Will Houchin with love, care, and enthusiasm.
