• Check out Studio Time with Tom for on-demand learning:
  Studio Time
• Private instruction — In person or via Zoom:
  Private Instruction
• Send a private lesson gift certificate
  Purchase Now
• Soloist — Recitals, Soloist, or Collaborator with Band or Orchestra. Send a note via the Contact page.
• University of Southern California (USC) Thornton School of Music — Mentorship program preparing students as performers and educators in trumpet performance. Download application HERE.

For inquiries, send a note to Tom via the Contact page.

My journey as a musician started when I was 12 years old. I played trumpet in band and immediately loved the challenge and joy that came from playing my instrument. I didn’t formally start taking trumpet lessons until I was a senior in high school.

Unfortunately, I developed some bad habits, including a poor em­bouchure and lots of tension. It became clear to me that I needed major changes in my approach. I started to become very passionate about the idea of improving at something and what that actually meant.

Before grad school, I completely changed my embouchure and started over on the trumpet. I went through a period of 9 months where I could hardly play. It was by far the most challenging and dif­ficult time for me in my development, yet it was also the beginning of a more open-minded and less ego-driven approach to improving.

I learned the most important lesson of my musical life:

I’M NOT A TRUMPET PLAYER. I’M A MUSICIAN WHO PLAYS THE TRUMPET.

This simple realization allowed me to question everything about my trumpet playing without feeling bad about who I was as a person.

This is one of the reason why I love teaching and helping people through music. If we as musicians can learn to let the music and the challenge of being the best we can on our instrument show us how to improve as people, then we will surely grow and become authen­tic results of our intentions.

Tom Hooten