Craig Morris presents a Master Class at the 2015 National Trumpet Competition at Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania on Friday, March 20, 2015.
Just for anybody tuning in all the way until the last discussion about "failing" ... I "failed" after music school and it wasn't the end of the world. I actually did my undergrad at UM back when Craig first got there. I was a theory-comp major (my principal instrument was piano; my secondary instrument was the trumpet), so I never studied directly with Craig, but I often went to the Friday trumpet/brass forums that he taught. He's absolutely right; it's not the end of the world if you don't "make it". I composed for a few years after school, took loads of piano gigs, even some trumpet gigs ... then met my wife and got a "real" job. I'm earning 6 figures now working 30 hours a week doing something I actually enjoy (eventually got my MBA and started consulting). I still play trumpet in an amateur orchestra that raises money for medical charities with each concert. I don't regret a minute I spent composing nor a minute I spent performing. Most of the guys who were trumpet performance majors at UM aren't performing as a career, but all of them still play as a hobby; you can never really shake it. Anthony is a bank manager, Brian is a small business owner, Andy is a firefighter. The two (Josh and Brad) that did "make it" both went into the army as musicians, so there's always good old Uncle Sam if you really want to be gigging.
Hey Brian R, music school did me in too. Not blaming the school but my experience there was joyless. It was a conservative program that didn't recognize jazz and most anything else not of the legit, traditional stuff. Fifty years later I am still playing and am very pleased with where my playing is at. A musician can be completely enlightened and fulfilled in their own practice room. Other people's opinions (including one's teachers') will never give you more than when you are centered and at peace with your horn and the music you are playing. "Making it" to me is experiencing the joy of playing the trumpet and not needing anyone else's assessment to feel right about it all.
There are so many useful and positive take-aways from this masterclass. Viewing is absolutely worth the time spent and I agree, watch to it’s completion. The last topic offers up a point of view all aspiring musicians should hear.
I was walking on a deserted stretch of beach when I found a Genie's lamp. As I wiped it off there was a bright flash and a jovial Genie appeared. "Hello mortal, I am the Genie of the lamp here to grant any one wish you might have". I was awed and amazed but immediately knew what I would wish for. No, not a zillion dollars or something incredible and exotic. Instead I asked the Genie to make the trumpet easy for me to play. His eyes immediately glazed over and I could see he was getting angry. He called me a fool and worse and disappeared back into the lamp. Evidently the Genie gave playing the trumpet a try and my request really rubbed him the wrong way!
