Jerry has been teaching trumpet students since 1980. In addition he gives private lessons in music and jazz theory, improvisation, composing and arranging, and directs small and large jazz ensembles. He runs workshops and clinics as well as lectures and demonstrations on jazz history, jazz improvisation, ensemble musicianship and brass instruments.

For more detailed information please view Jerry’s CV.

Teaching Experience:
2010–present Private Trumpet Instructor, Holy Name High School, Worcester, MA
Teaching trumpet, sight reading, musicianship and music theory to beginning, intermediate and advanced trumpet students in the middle and high schools.

1993–present Faculty, Joy of Music Program, Worcester, MA

Responsibilities include:
Teaching trumpet, sight reading, musicianship and music theory to beginning, intermediate and advanced trumpet students of all ages; including preparations for regional and state select ensembles and college admission auditions.

Teaching jazz music theory, improvisation, composition, and arranging to students of all instruments.

Directing small jazz ensembles at all levels. Repertoire includes standard jazz repertoire, original works of my own, original works of the students’, and improvisation-based re-compositions of several other genres of music – International and American folk and classical music, rock, funk, R&B, and various “fusions”. The finer points of ensemble playing and individuality are always stressed, as well as performance etiquette and a commitment to teamwork. Many ensembles have and continue to perform in community events in the greater Worcester area.

1998–2000 Faculty, Indian Hill Music Center, Littleton, MA
Taught trumpet, musicianship and music theory to beginning, intermediate and advanced trumpet students of all ages.

Founder and director of the Indian Hill Arts Big Band. Responsibilities included recruiting band members, selecting repertoire, directing weekly rehearsals, arranging repertoire, and organizing community performances.

1990-present Home Studio
Teaching trumpet, music theory, jazz improvisation, and composition to students of all ages. Responsible for recruiting all new students.

1998-present Educational Programs
“Trio To Go”, sponsored by Music Worcester for Worcester K-6 City Schools. As part of a brass trio (trumpet, french horn, and trombone), Trio To Go travels several times a year performing classical repertoire and demonstrating the fundamentals of brass instruments. We also discuss and demonstrate simple compositional form and style and allow time for question and answer interaction with the student audience.

“Conversations in Jazz”, sponsored by Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA. This program was designed and developed by myself, Rich Falco (Director of Jazz Studies, WPI), and Rich Ardizzone (Associate Director, Joy of Music Program) for the purpose of bringing to the students and public of the greater Worcester community a heightened awareness of jazz music in terms of its historical “roots” and its development, influences and possibilities for the future. Examples of how jazz performance fosters team-work, communication and self-expression are stressed throughout this presentation. I perform in this program with my band, Sonic Explorers (trumpet, trombone, guitar, bass, drums), on original music and arrangements of classic jazz repertoire.

Jazz History presentation and performance at Bancroft School,Worcester, MA. This program was developed and hosted by myself and performed by my band, Sonic Explorers. It focused on a brief overview and demonstration of the history of small ensemble, instrumental jazz music from Louis Armstrong to 21st century jazz. Questions and discussions with students were encouraged at the end of the program.

Clinician and Coach
May 2010 Holy Name High School, Worcester, MA. Coached the High School jazz ensemble in preparation for the Great East Festival competition.
May 2009, Applewild School, Fitchburg, MA. Hosted several brass clinics with
May 2008 beginner and intermediate brass students focusing mainly on the fundamentals of warming up, practicing, and exercising the embouchure.
Apr. 2008 Bow High School, Bow, NH. Hosted an all-day jazz clinic with music students from the Bow middle school and high school ending with a concert of original music by Sonic Explorers.
Mar. 2005 University of Maine Augusta. Hosted a morning jazz clinic/lecture and demonstration for music students, faculty and community on the topic of world music influences in jazz and improvised music. The day ended with an evening concert of original music by Sonic Explorers.
Apr. 2002 Groton School, Groton, MA. Hosted an all-day jazz clinic with music students from the Groton School culminating with a concert of original music by Sonic Explorers and a performance by the Groton School Jazz Ensemble.
Nov. 2001 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA. Trumpet coach for the WPI jazz ensemble trumpet section.

Composer and Director of Jazz Ensembles
Jan. 2011 Director of the Central District Massachusetts Music Educators Association (CDMMEA) Senior Jazz Band. In addition to rehearsing and directing this 18-piece ensemble, I was commissioned to compose an original work (Tune Formerly Known as Prince (Albert)) and arrange a suite of three early Sun Ra works. I conducted the final concert at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA.
Oct. 2009 Tahanto Regional High School, Boylston, MA. I co-organized and led a
two-day residency for the jazz programs of Tahanto High School and Middle School as well as the Elementary programs from Berlin and Boylston., MA. This residency included my directing several large and small jazz ensembles, organizing and running a large group improvisation workshop for all jazz students, teaching a high school AP Music Theory class, composing an original piece for small high school jazz ensemble, and performing in a culminating concert with student groups and with Sonic Explorers.
Mar. 2006 Lunenburg High School, Lunenburg, MA. I had an original work commissioned for the Lunenburg High School Jazz Band (Blue Knights With Soy Bombs). I attended several rehearsals as guest conductor and directed the band at its premiere concert.
Feb. 2004 Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA. Three of my original works were commissioned for Charlie Kohlhase’s Modern American Music Ensemble. I was invited as guest director to attend several rehearsals of these pieces which were later performed in concert by the ensemble.
Apr. 2003 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA. I had an original work commissioned for the WPI Jazz Combo (Café Barada) directed by Rich Falco and attended several rehearsals as ensemble coach. The piece was later performed in concert by the ensemble.
1995-present Joy of Music Program, Worcester, MA. I have had several small jazz ensemble works commissioned, performed and kept as part of the Joy of Music Program’s jazz ensemble program. All pieces were written to cover a wide range of levels of expertise and are used often for rehearsal and performance purposes.

Jerry is available as an individual or soloist, or can bring an ensemble to your school or institution for a performance or to integrate into your music program. He teaches at the Joy of Music Program in Worcester, MA, at Holy Name High School in Worcester and from his home studio in Leominster, MA.

For more information on private music lessons, email Jerry at jerrys@sonicexplorers.com