William Adam (trumpeter)

William A. Adam
Born October 21, 1917
Kansas City, Kansas
Died November 25, 2013(2013-11-25) (aged 96)
Bloomington, Indiana
Occupation(s) Trumpeter, Lecturer, Pedagogue
Instruments Trumpet

William Alexander "Bill" Adam (October 21, 1917 – November 25, 2013) was 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 unconventional 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. and around the world.

He died on November 25, 2013 in Bloomington, Indiana.[2]

Notable former students

  • Chris Botti
  • Randy Brecker
  • Jerry Hey
  • Miroslav Bukovsky
  • John Rommel Indiana University
  • John Head - Atlanta Symphony
  • Robert Burns Jr. (of Earth, Wind & Fire)
  • Pat Harbison - Indiana University
  • Larry Hall
  • Charley Davis
  • Mark Van Cleave
  • Karl Sievers - University of Oklahoma
  • Greg Wing - Morehead State University
  • John Harbaugh - University of Central Washington
  • Bob Platt - Berlin Philharmonic
  • Jay Coble (University of South Florida)
  • Kevin Kjos (Kutztown University)
  • Mark Wilcox (McMurry University)
  • James Stokes (Appalachian State University)
  • Joe Phelps (Appalachian State University)
  • Robert Slack (Citrus College)
  • Robert Baca (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire)
  • Michael Hackett (University of North Carolina - Charlotte)
  • Darren Barrett (Jazz Musician - Berklee College of Music)
  • Dennis Schneider (University of Nebraska)
  • Grant Manhart (Northern State University)
  • Gil Hoffer (The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own")
  • Ansyn Banks (University of Louisville)
  • William Dunn (United States Navy Band Washington D.C.)
  • Dr. Todd Kelly (Bradley University)

and one more: Robert Rÿker (principal tuba, Montreal Symphony)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Friday, June 18 - 2:00 pm, Master Class: Bill Adam, Gates Concert Hall
  2. ↑ "Obituaries". The Herald Times. Bloomington, Indiana. 2013-11-26.
  • William A. Adam (subject), John Harbaugh (host), Stewart Aull (camera), A New and Different Way of Getting More Music out of Trumpet, Fairbanks, Alaska: Stewart Aull/Moving Images (1997) (Videocassette), 3 tapes OCLC 38589681
    1. Interview (90 min.)
    2. Pedagogy (84 min.)
    3. Lecture (82 min.)


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.