David Summer, Trumpet
David Summer, Trumpet and Flute Lessons
Along with a degree in music education, David Summer brings to his teaching over 30 years of teaching and performance experience.
David can help with your music reading, practicing and performance skills. He can help you prepare for a special performance or audition. David has helped many younger students gain admission to Massachusetts schools district bands.
David has also taught many students the art of improvisation. He uses play along materials to make improvising fun and combines this with ear training so students learn how to hear chord changes and recognize musical patterns.
David has taught students at all levels from beginners to professional players. He makes full use of the wide range of resources that technology has to offer today's teacher.
All lessons are private and tailored to the individual student's interests and ability. David teaches students of all ages, children and adults.
Lessons may be scheduled on a regular weekly basis or "one at a time" lessons are available.
All lessons are given in a music studio located in David's home in Groton, Massachusetts. This location is easily accessible to students from Acton, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Bolton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Devens, Dunstable, Harvard, Hudson, Lincoln, Littleton, Lunenburg, Maynard, Pepperell, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Townsend, Tyngsboro, Westford and surrounding towns, as well as towns in southern NH, including Hollis, Hudson and Nashua, NH.
Email David Email David to schedule a lesson or for more information.
Flute Duets
David Summer Teaching Flute As a resource for flute students, David has recorded some of the duets from the book Selected Duets for Flute, Volume 1 Edited by H.Voxman.
Find them on the Recordings Page.
David on Musical Instrument Doubling
I'm often asked about playing both the Trumpet and the Flute.
The most frequent question has to do with how one embouchure affects another. I have seen no ill effects of playing both the Trumpet and Flute. I have no trouble going from one instrument to the other. I sometimes switch instruments in the middle of a piece.
The two embouchures are certainly different and both need to be maintained. That is probably the most difficult part of doubling, finding time to consistently practice all of your instruments. The old joke, "I used to play the trombone, but I let it slide", applies.
Trombone Trumpet Flute
It is true that, from an embouchure standpoint, if you are a wind player who is selecting a double, it is easier to choose an instrument in the same family as the one you currently play. If you are a trumpet player, for example, it is easier to maintain a trombone embouchure than a flute embouchure.
If you enjoy recording music, as I do, you'll find being a multi-instrumentalist definitely has advantages. You can use your ability to double to create large ensemble recordings or simply as a way to provide more tone colors to your recordings.
As a multi-instrumentalist you will likely find more opportunities for performance as well. I'm sometimes hired to play the trumpet only or the flute only. However, often people are glad to find I can play both and are happy to have me utilize that ability. The combination of trumpet and flute in my specialized performance work is especially effective.
I believe that you should play the instruments that interest you and not be concerned about how one wind instrument embouchure might affect another. If you select instruments on the basis of those that you truly enjoy playing you will be more likely to keep playing and enjoying the satisfaction that comes from making music.