Sean-David (SD) is a multi-instrumentalist who has been playing music for over 38 years, but trumpet is his primary instrument and his life-long pursuit and passion. Why not study trumpet with the most recommended trumpet teacher in town, recommended by SOGO, local band directors, and college professors?! SD began playing the trumpet in the fifth grade (with braces)! Learning the trumpet with braces is not fun, but Sean-David knows the pain, and knows how to live through it! It can be done. He first fell in love with the trumpet as soon as he first saw and heard Louis Armstrong playing as recorded on TV, and the rest is history.

Sean-David is a graduate of Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) where he studied jazz composition and performance with jazz greats like Phil Wilson, Greg Hopkins (renowned Buddy Rich Big Band trumpet player), Jeff Stout (trumpet player with the Buddy Rich Big Band, Gary Burton, and has appeared with such jazz greats as Mel Torme’, Buddy Tate, James Williams, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Joe Lovano, Curtis Fuller, John Scofield, and Kurt Elling). Lin Biviano (trumpet player with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, Bill Chase Big Band, and Maynard Ferguson Big Band), and Hal Crook (world renowned jazz musician and educator). “SD” also studied jazz improvisation privately with Jerry Bergonzi (one of the world’s greatest jazz saxophonests and educators) for over a year and a half while in Boston.

Sean-David served for six years in the U.S. Army Bands both in the US and abroad. He has experience playing professionally in a variety of environments; small groups, big bands, orchestral, musical theatre, and in churches, but jazz music is his passion as a musician. Sean-David is also a skilled and educated composer often writing new music to serve community. SD also holds two master’s degrees and a doctorate with a project focus on facilitating and serving the community through a local nonprofit music academy. As an educator, in addition to teaching music in private and small group formats, SD has served as an adjunct faculty member/professor for nearly 15 years and continues to do so simply for the joy of it. SD is also the co-founder and director of TIA.

As a trumpet player and brass specialist, SD has a passion for jazz music for sure, but by no means is that his only focus on trumpet study or playing. In fact, SD’s primary concern with trumpet players is developing a consistent, robust, healthy sound and approach on the horn. In his own journey, SD has devoted himself to study and practice of various different methods and approaches both historic and modern including of course the works of Clarke, Arban, and Bill Adam, one of the greatest trumpeters and educators of the 20th century, and most recently, the works of Larry Meregillano including The Compression Training System.

Not tied to any of these individual works or systems as the only approach to the trumpet, SD is committed to help you find the approach that works best for you and your personal goals and loves exploring everything our there from historical to contemporary approaches to the trumpet. In fact, listening to The Trumpet Gurus Hang Podcast, a podcast devoted to discussions with the world’s top trumpet players, manufactures, educators, and technicians is on SD’s calendar weekly as a part of his ongoing study and journey.

What kind of students does SD work with? Every kind. SD loves teaching both beginners and advanced students, mostly he just loves teaching students that want to learn! SD has trained and prepared students that have gone on to record portfolio projects for Stanford University submission, students that have gone on to Berklee College of Music and now run their own recording and production studio, he teaches medical doctors, retired engineers, and even local band directors and music teachers. And he would love to work with you too!

SD plays regularly today on commercial recordings like this one.