William Adam (trumpeter)

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William Adam (also Bill Adam) (born 25 October 1917) is an American trumpeter, respected pedagogue, and Professor Emeritus at Indiana University. He was highly analytical as a teacher, but always avoided discussing the mechanical aspects of trumpet playing with a student. Instead he taught by demonstration and by explanation in terms of sound. In his own words, "If your mind leaves the sound of the horn, obstacles will appear." [1]

He gave many lectures throughout his life, but never wrote a book or article on his approach to trumpet. He believed such a medium was against the very nature of his teaching of trumpet. The only official documentation of his approach in a three-videotape series, A New and Different Way of Getting More Music out of Trumpet. His approach is carried on by his former students, many of whom hold positions at music schools throughout the U.S. His students have included many successful trumpet performers and teachers: Chris Botti, Randy Brecker, John Head, John Rommel, Pat Harbison, Charlie Davis, Jerry Hey, Karl Sievers, Robert Baca, John Harbaugh, Bob Platt, Miroslav Bukovsky and many others.

[edit] References

Adam, William, John Harbaugh, and Stewart Aull, A New and Different Way of Getting More Music out of Trumpet (Fairbanks, Alaska: Stewart Aull/Moving Images, 1997) [Videocassette], 3 tapes.