- School of Music | University of South Carolina

Welcome to the University of South Carolina Trumpet Studio

About UofSC Trumpet Studio

The School of Music offers a very comprehensive course of study for all trumpet students from freshman year through doctoral study. Our studio consists of twenty to twenty-six students from the United States and abroad. South Carolina is the state's flagship school for music education and that is seen in the trumpet studio, where 80% of our majors are studying music education.

Students are thoroughly prepared to meet their professional goals, whether those goals are performance or within the academic world. We foster an attitude where intensely focused and purposeful study, structured to realize each student's musical potential, is conducted in a cooperative environment of very highly talented aspiring professionals. We believe in a "win-win" environment in which students help each other to succeed.

The UofSC Trumpet Ensemble has been an active ensemble in the community and beyond. The ensemble has traveled to China, Italy and México (on several occaissions), performed at ITG (International Trumpet Guild) and regularly competes at the National Trumpet Competition.

Graduates of the studio have gone on to win auditions in many of the nations top universities and conservastories, as well as top military band positions, symphony orchestras, touring groups, academic positions and K-12 positions across the nation (and abroad).

The School of Music offers a wide variety of performance experiences such as the symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, opera orchestra, chamber music (brass quintets, trumpet ensemble, various mixed ensembles), jazz ensembles, wind ensembles (3), and marching band, just to name a few.

Please take a few moments and check out the pages in our studio website. You will find audition information for undergraduate and graduate degrees, a studio calendar of events, and other information for your perusal. If you have any further questions or would like to visit the trumpet studio, please contact Professor Ackley at ackley@mailbox.sc.edu.

Lessons

First and foremost, every School of Music trumpet major has the opportunity to learn from our trumpet professor, who has years of significant professional experience, on a one-on-one basis. Each student receives an individualized and well-structured program of fundamental exercises, etudes, solos, and orchestral repertoire. Our trumpet professor is in permanent residence and readily accessible to help meet the students' needs.

Studio Class

Besides weekly lessons, all trumpet students are involved in a studio class that also meets each week. This time is an invaluable supplement to private trumpet instruction. Studio classes may offer individual and section performance opportunities, focus a great deal of attention on successful audition and performance preparation, hold mock auditions, host special guest artists and have class discussions covering a broad spectrum of topics, as well as readings or musical games that deepen every student's musical understanding and professional preparation.