Study the Trumpet with James
James Knabe – Teaching Bio
James Knabe is a freelance trumpet player and educator based in Dallas, TX. He has performed as a soloist across the U.S. and in Rome, Italy, and has appeared with orchestras, chamber ensembles, and church worship teams.
He holds a Master of Music in Trumpet from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Iowa, studying with renowned teachers including Charles Schlueter, Peter Chapman, Nello Salza, and David Greenhoe.
With over 25 years of teaching experience, James has taught students of all ages in Massachusetts, Illinois, and Texas, as well as nationwide through his online studio. He has presented masterclasses at schools and colleges across the country and developed a personalized curriculum and trumpet routines that emphasize both technique and artistry.
His students have earned placements in All-Region and All-State ensembles, pursued music degrees, and built careers as performers and music educators.
James can be heard on the recording “An Evening of Italian Baroque Music” and also with the Windy City Chamber Ensemble in Chicago. James is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association. He travels extensively and teaches in-person across the USA and online as well.
You can learn more about James at his website www.trumpeter.com
James performing with a student during a trumpet studio recital
“My son Nick studied trumpet exclusively with James at least four years. James did a consistently fantastic job of working with Nick. James friendly personality and rapport helped keep Nick positive and engaged throughout many years of hard work. He hosted numerous recitals which allowed his students to prepare and perform more challenging pieces for an audience. James wide breadth of musical styles afforded Nick the opportunity to learn many types of music as well as discover where his own interests are.
Highly recommended!”
James' Teaching Philosophy:
Each student is approached as an individual artist. James will work with you to develop a successful approach to the trumpet and to music in general. James has written pedagogical articles & developed his own specialized studies.
James' background includes Chicago/NY/Boston Schools and Styles of Classical and Foundational Trumpet Playing. Some of the resources utilized include classical methods/studies from Arban, Schlossberg, Irons, Clarke, Bitsch, Charlier, Voxman, Voisin to Contemporary Studies and Etudes from Bai Lin, Maurice Andre, Ponzo, Cichowicz, and more.
James also utilizes music from all major styles and genres of music including classical, jazz, rock/pop, broadway/movie music, gospel/christian, hip hop, and more giving students a wide variety of musical knowledge.
James also teaches multiple breathing methods including classic and wedge breath as well as his own specialized method for sight reading, multiple tonguing, range development, and musicality.
As a player who has successfully navigated many problems on the trumpet (including an embouchure change, bruised lips, early lack of rhythmic coordination, trouble with low & high range through his formative years, and much more), James can help you to work through your challenges and bring you to a place of breakthrough by offering innovative ideas to develop your range, sight reading skills, creative practice methods/ideas, better fluidity and ease of play, and more.
James' Principal Trumpet Teachers Include:
Charles Schlueter, Principal Trumpet, Boston Symphony Orchestra + Soloist
Peter Chapman, Trumpet Boston Symphony Orchestra/Boston Pops
Nello Salza, International Soloist & Italian Opera Trumpeter
David Greenhoe, Lake Placid Sinfonietta, Quad City Symphony
“I met James through my school band’s trumpet students who took privately from him during the summer. After several years of hearing the same results in my students - beautiful trumpet tone, good range, increasing love of the instrument and then the student’s parents deciding to have their children take from him year around, I decided to go take a couple of lessons to learn how he gets such consistent results.
I found myself getting a fresh wind to take back to my brass students and my bands at all levels (I teach 4-12th grade band). James is an encourager, very patient, loves music and is great with all levels of students. He reminded me why I went into the music education profession in the first place and helped me remember to relax and enjoy playing/teaching.
Some of my students have continued to take from James via Skype and are very satisfied with it. I’m looking forward to his next visit to Illinois to take a lesson or two and get some new ideas to take back to my band program!”
Resources for Trumpet Students:
Here are a few links to help you with cleaning and maintenance of your instrument:
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