Reprinted from the

International Trumpet Guild Journal

to promote communications among trumpet players around the world and to improve the artistic level
of performance, teaching, and literature associated with the trumpet
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June 2001 / ITG Journal 47
2001 International Trumpet Guild
A Letter to My Students
BY FRANK GABRIEL CAMPOS
Teaching the trumpet is a difficult task. The develop-
ment and refinement of high-level psychomotor skill is a
slow and frequently frustrating process. We teachers rely
on our personal experience, training, and intuition to solve
the problems that come into the studio each day. Every
student has a unique pattern of physical and mental char-
acteristics that must be explored and understood in order
to properly prescribe workable solutions for the obstacles
that halt forward progress. Not every ailment has an
immediate solution and any diagnosis may be a shot in
the dark until more is known. For most situations, pa-
tience is the order of the day.
The ability to demonstrate the desired musical product
on ones instrument, even without uttering a single word
of instruction, is generally regarded as an extremely im-
portant qualification of a fine teacher, but not every artist
can teach. How we choose to teach is every bit as impor-
tant as what we teach. Noting that there are many differ-
ent ways to teach successfully, I would like to explain
some of the principles that are the foundation of the way I
work. The wonderful teachers to whom I owe so much shared
these ideas with me, and now I pass them on to you.
1. It is my job to help you to become the best musician
you can be. I am committed to helping you realize as
much of your potential as possible during our time to-
gether. I will address your problems individually, giving
each of you what you need to take the next step on your
own path.
2. You are the only teacher you will ever have. I am a
coach, a guide, a resource, or any number of roles accord-
ing to your needs, but you must spend the time in the
practice room required to apply what we have discussed in
the lesson. Knowing about the trumpet intellectually is
not the same as knowing it as reflexes in ones muscles
and nerves. I cannot teach you how to play you must do
it alone. There are no shortcuts.
3. We learn through a process of imitation and trial-
and-error. Musical expression is best learned through
the imitation of that which we strive to become, so we
must closely study the greatest practitioners of our art and
apply the pertinent aspects of their lives and work. Experi-
mentation with new techniques and ideas often does not
lead to success immediately, so you must try over and
over, modifying your approach until you succeed. Learn-
ing cannot occur without failure there is no other way.
4. Repetition is the mother of all learning. Complex
psychomotor skill is acquired through repetition. One of
the most important aspects of high-level skill is the ability
to perform a task with no conscious mental effort. This is
called automaticity, and it can only be gained through
repetition. The most efficient and effective method of learn-
ing any physical task is by repeating it slowly and per-
fectly until it is automatic.
5. It is not the instrument we must master, but our-
selves. We must diligently address our areas of weakness
and not blame any person, thing, or condition outside of
ourselves for our inability to improve. Knowledge of our
strengths and weaknesses is essential to growth, as this
shows us where we need to direct our energy for maxi-
mum benefit.
6. I wont take credit for your success or your failure. I
will play an important part in your growth, but you will do
all the work and you are solely responsible for the out-
come. I am proud of my students, but I will never claim
credit for their successes, nor will I accept responsibility
for their failures.
7. Take what you can use and leave the rest. I do not
have all the answers, but I ask that you make a good faith
effort to apply the suggestions we have discussed. If they
dont work for you, well try something else. If you come
across other ideas that are more effective, use them, but
running from one new thing to another without a sincere
attempt at application will only lead to frustration.
8. Give without thought of reward. We can never
really thank those who have helped us become what we
are today, but we can pass on, in the same spirit, all that
they have shared. Do not think that you will be given
reward, credit, or even gratitude for your work with a
student. Do it with love. There is no greater way to honor
your teachers.
About the Author: Frank G. Campos is professor of
trumpet at Ithaca College and a member of the ITG Board
of Directors. His teachers include John J. Haynie, Ritchie
Clendenin, Leonard Candelaria, Don Jacoby, James Stamp,
Carole Klein, and his father.
Clinic
Frank G. Campos, Editor