BRYAN P

My Education Accolades and Experience

I received my Bachelors Degree in Trombone Performance from the Penn State University, my Masters in Performance from the University of Miami, and am currently attending the University of Colorado Boulder where I am pursuing my Doctorate in Trombone Performance and Brass Pedagogy. My teachers have included members of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Florida Philharmonic, Colorado Ballet Orchestra, and the Woody Herman Big Band. 

Outside of my formal education, I have been a freelance trombone player and music teacher for 10 years in the towns of Pittsburgh, Miami, and Denver. My teaching experience includes private lessons with students of all ages, undergraduate music majors, regular group lessons at public schools in the Boulder County area, and weekly group masterclasses at the Arthur & Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts in Florida. My students’ accomplishments include selections for All-State bands, orchestras, and college music programs. As a performer, I have been fortunate enough to play with ensembles such as the Boulder Philharmonic, Longmont Symphony, Ft. Collins Symphony, Brass Roots, The Henry Mancini Institute, New World Symphony, and world class musicians like Bobby McFerrin, Chick Corea, Edgar Meyer, Joshua Bell, Wayne Bergeron, and Joseph Alessi. 

My Approach to Teaching 

No two students are alike. We all have different goals, experiences, strengths/weaknesses, and ways we learn. My aim is to help every student as the individual that they are, and to encourage and motivate them in the pursuit of their personal goals. The best way that I’ve found to aid in that effort is to just listen to them. Listen carefully and pay attention. After that, things are relatively straightforward. If I can take the time I have with a student, get them one step closer to achieving their goals, all while fostering a love and appreciation for music, I consider that a great success. 

One of My Practice Techniques

Listen, and listen a lot! To professional recordings for references and just fun, but also to yourself. There is no substitute for recording yourself practicing. It is often very difficult and humbling to listen back to your playing, but above all it’s extremely educational. The nice thing is that it’s never been easier, now that we all have smart phones or laptops within arm’s reach. As brass players, it also offers an opportunity to rest your face as you listen back and critique what did (or didn’t…) go according to plan. This can certainly be tough to do, but recordings rarely lie. Listen carefully to what you did, and go back and make it a little bit better over and over again. There’s likely no better use of your time than to thoughtfully record as you practice. 

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TRUMPET | TROMBONE| FRENCH HORN| BARITONE | EUPOHONIUM | CORNET| SOUSAPHONE| FLUGELHORN | TUBA