Freelance Trumpet player and private teacher Trent Austin grew up in Corinna, Maine (Population 2000). Trent says, "It's such a small town there's no supermarket anymore." Trent wanted to play the drums but his dad told him the drums would be too loud. The sax looked like it had way too many keys. The trombone just looked plain weird so Trent picked the trumpet.
Trent recalls, "I was extremely lucky as both my elementary and middle school band directors are excellent musicians. They exposed me to wonderful opportunities and music from an early age. I also really lucked out by attending the Maine Jazz Camp where my first trumpet teachers were the Findley brothers (!!). They liked to vacation in Maine during the summer and I never knew just how lucky I was. They set me up with Carmine Caruso exercises, Clarke Technical Studies, and sound fundamentals. They also made it look so easy that I just assumed it was!"
While in high school, Trent was selected to play at the opening of Euro-Disney and was also a featured performer at the 1992 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In addition, he was selected as the first trumpet of the Maine All-State Festival while attending Nokomis Regional High School and was later awarded a full music scholarship to attend the University of New Hampshire to study classical trumpet. Other individual awards include being named to the 1993 Berklee Grammy High School Jazz Band, lead trumpet of the 1995 Disney All American Show Band, a featured soloist at the 1996 Harmony Ridge Brass Festival and at the 1997 Lake Placid Institute of the Arts Seminar.
In college, I got to study with a bunch of wonderful artists. Most notably on the Trumpet were my two big influences to this day: Clark Terry and Ed Carroll. Besides their incredible virtuosity, I noticed they both were 100% genuine. They spoke their minds. They cared more for the student than any other teacher I've experienced. The lessons I learned from the way they carry themselves stays with me to this day! I strive to have 1% of the success they've had in their lives."
Trent Austin has performed with such artists as Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Jack Jones, Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider, Peter Erskine, Arturo Sandoval, Hal Galper, Dick Oatts, Marvin Stamm, Red Holloway, Jesse Davis, Dick Johnson, Kenny Werner, and Bob Wilber. Most recently Mr. Austin was a featured trumpet soloist with the prestigious Artie Shaw Orchestra (a position he held for 11 years) and is currently highly in demand in the Boston area as a trumpet soloist.
Trent is on the faculty at the University of Southern Maine, teaches "on call" trumpet lessons throughout the Boston area, and has a highly successful private studio in the Boston Suburb of Salem, Massachusetts. Most of Trent's time these days is being spent presenting clinics, workshops, and concerts throughout the world. Recently Trent Austin performed Bach's 2nd Brandenburg Concerto with the USM School of Music for school's 50th anniversary.
I got my first pro gig early on, when I was 20. I was in college and a friend of mine (great New York City trumpet player Taylor Haskins who plays lead on Dave Holland's band) had to sub a week tour. I played the tour with the Artie Shaw Orchestra and I ended up playing 12 years with them! Nowadays I'm not doing as many gigs as my focus really has changed to teaching. I find far more joy in the "trenches" with students than on stage.
To contact Trent Austin ... you can visit Trent's websites at TrentAustinMusic.com and email him off his website.
Trent also has the following websites TrentAustinBandCamp.com which has many MP3's for free downloading.
Trumpet Player Trent Austin on teaching students: "I like to keep things easy. One of my big things in my studio is to keep things simple. Therefore I have three rules for my trumpet students:
1. If it sounds right, it's probably right.
2. If it feels right, it's probably right.
3. If it looks right, it's probably right.
All of my trumpet students strive for all three. But I'll tolerate 2 out of 3. That aint bad!
On the trumpet, I've been lucky to study with direct students of Carmine Caruso, Bill Adam, Stamp, Louis Maggio, Stevens, Callet, and other trumpet masters. Through these studies I can usually pick what works best for a particular trumpet student. In terms of range, I tell my trumpet students to play tunes in all registers. That was something Maynard told me when I was in 8th grade and I still play tunes daily in all ranges. Solid fundamentals beat everything and pages 20-33 in the Arbans book along with Clarke Technical Studies 1-6 are daily musts for me.
In terms of improvisation, it's all about eliminating weakness in an individual's playing. The old adage "There's so much to learn" is partially true. I truly believe teaching improvisation can be as easy as opening the Arbans book and progressing through it. Focusing on a major weakness and making it a strong point in their playing makes the players see the "light at the end of the tunnel."
Trent's primary jazz instructors include private studies with Jerry Bergonzi, Kenny Werner, Chuck Findley and extensive studies with Hal Crook as well as Charlie Banacos. His major classical instruction includes studies with Robert Stibler (UNH) and Edward Carroll (formerly musical director of the New York Trumpet Ensemble).
Trumpet Player Trent Austin on equipment: "I've owned practically every Bb trumpet made. It's been a never-ending search that I truly believe is over with my relationship with the folks at S.E. Shires Trumpets I've had a particular sound and blow response I've been asking makers to create for years. As opposed to "can't do it", "too expensive", "not in our product line", or "you're crazy" (I got that one a lot!) ... Steve Shires said "Let's do it."
This trumpet truly has changed my playing and opened up some of the extreme repertoire I love to play. We're currently working on another custom horn that's been in my head for years. It's actually a dream to work with this company and I love them so much I signed on to be a consultant for the company. I get to go to show these horns to some of the best players in the world. I'm a kid in a candy store!
In terms of mouthpieces I'm playing the Wedge Trumpet Mouthpieces I'm allergic to silver and gold and for years have dealt with irritation and issues due to my allergies. I was on the verge of quitting and moving to piano full-time when Dr. Dave Harrison sent me a few pieces on a whim. I played a gig and recording session the next two days on those pieces when he sent them! Talk about love at first "toot!" I begged him to make me a Stainless Steel model and he did. These pieces are the next step in trumpet evolution. It's opened up even more extreme rep like Michael Haydn, Richter, Shazam, etc.
Trent uses the S.E. Shires Bb Trumpet B-LW model (Model B Lightweight) ML .459 Bore, W07 leadpipe (very open); S.E. Shires C Trumpet 5S model, .462 bore, W1 leadpipe (very open);
Adams Custom Flugel .50 Gold Brass Model; Schilke XA1 Cornet in silver plate;
Scherzer Rotary valve piccolo trumpet with Blackburn pipes. Trents mouthpieces are Wedge Trumpet mouthpieces (most of the time a 3C-M with 25 throat);
Ultra-Pure and Wick valve oil; Raw Brass trumpet cases which he says are "the best in the biz!
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