In this Listener's Choice episode, Andrew & Lance answer a frequently asked listener question regarding starting a brass group.

We cover many areas, including:

• Start with why
• Gigging group or full-time endeavor
• Traditional brass quintet instrumentation?
• Skills developed via chamber music 
• The path if you want a gigging group
• Opportunities to play different musical roles
• The "who" decision
• "Good to Great" by Jim Collins
• Division of labor
• The Polka Bandits
• The Dead Animals
• 2 Red Performance Commando Unit
• Incorporate or not?
• Picking a name
• Branding
• Picking the right market for your skills
• Andrew's last Boston Brass gig

LINKS:

Want to help the show? Here are some ways:

• Help others find the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes.
• Show us some love on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
• Help us pay the bills (and get regular bonus episodes!) by becoming a Patreon patron.
• Show some love to our sponsors: The brass program at The Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University and Parker Mouthpieces (including the Andrew Hitz and Lance LaDuke models.)
• Tell your friends!

Expertly produced by Will Houchin with love, care, and enthusiasm.

Jennifer Marotta is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. An active freelance musician based in Los Angeles, she regularly performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the St. Louis Symphony.

Marotta is currently a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Music of the Baroque in Chicago. She was a member of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band from 2001 to 2005.

Originally from Naperville, Illinois, she earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University and her Master of Music degree from DePaul University.

Marotta was a visiting trumpet professor at UCLA in 2016 and was Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Kennesaw State University from 2006 to 2012. She was also a visiting professor at Illinois State University in 2006 and was an artist-in-residence at Emory University from 2006 to 2010.

Jennifer, along with her husband Thomas Hooten, is the most recent editor for Arban’s Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet, published by Carl Fischer. She serves on the board for the International Women’s Brass Conference and is the editor for their bi-annual newsletter.

In this fun and lively conversation, we cover:

• Teaching at USC
• Subbing for Jens at UCLA
• Freelancing and travel
• Playing in the US Marine Band
• St. Louis and Atlanta on the way to LA
• Being married to another professional trumpet player (Thomas Hooten, Principal trumpet in the LA Phil
• Similar teaching styles with Tom
• Differences in their playing styles
• Ambassador of Euphonium, Adam Frey
• Kennesaw State with Tom Gibson, Wes Funderburk, and Dave Kehler
• Studying with Barbara Butler
• Balancing fundamentals with musical communication
• Treating each student in a way that is best for them
• Taking the best stuff from her teachers and heroes
• The USC students study with both of them and switch each semester
• Teton Festival
• Playing in "The President's Own" United States Marine Band
• Joining the band just after 9/11
• Seven-week tours and "Tour Babies"
• Playing for President Reagan's funeral in 90-degree heat
• Playing with the Atlanta Opera
• Being on the board of the International Women's Brass Conference and editor of the newsletter
• Playing with the Monarch Brass
• Ask a Performer site

LINKS:

• Personal Site
• USC Bio Page
• Ask A Performer Site
• Arban's

Want to help the show? Here are some ways:

• Help others find the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes.
• Show us some love on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
• Help us pay the bills (and get regular bonus episodes!) by becoming a Patreon patron.
• Show some love to our sponsors: The brass program at The Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University and Parker Mouthpieces (including the Andrew Hitz and Lance LaDuke models.)
• Tell your friends!

Expertly produced by Will Houchin with love, care, and enthusiasm.

TBJ95: TEM Takeover! In this crossover episode, we hear Andrew in conversation with Jeff Conner from The Entrepreneurial Musician podcast.

Jeff Conner has performed in over 30 countries on 4 continents with his brass quintet, Boston Brass. Jeff talks about how they went from a college group playing small gigs around the Boston area to an internationally touring, full-time ensemble.

Topics Covered:

• How he got a powerful Boston businessman to financially support Boston Brass

• The importance of having mentors that inspire you

• Perseverance being a key to success

• Not being afraid of the word no

• Networking being a longterm process

• Why developing your own brand is essential

• The book he wrote with John Laverty, The Porfolio Musician, in which they detail the careers of over 40 different musicians

Links:

• Boston Brass

Books:

• The Portfolio Musician: Case Studies in Success

Want to help the show? Here are some ways:

• Help others find the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes.
• Show us some love on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
• Help us pay the bills (and get regular bonus episodes!) by becoming a Patreon patron.
• Show some love to our sponsors: The brass program at The Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University and Parker Mouthpieces (including the Andrew Hitz and Lance LaDuke models.)
• Tell your friends!

Original episode produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass. This version lovingly produced by Will Houchin.