Carrie B.

James is personable and professional. He has the ability to work with school-aged children very well while keeping expectations high.

John K.

I wanted to take lessons from Ryan primarily to become a jazz trumpet player. I have learned from him that in order to do so, I had to first learn to play the trumpet, which I am doing through flow studies, technical studies and etudes Ryan is teaching me. I think his approach is more in line with how Wynton Marsalis or Al Hirt became great jazz trumpeters, having first learned as much as possible about playing the trumpet. After 9 months with Ryan, my range has expanded, I understand more about music theory and I am playing with more efficiency and confidence. Also, his dog will only sing along with me and no one else.

Lauren

My 14 year-old daughter has been taking trumpet lessons with Dorival Puccini, Jr. for the past four years. During this time, her experience taking lessons has far exceeded our expectations. Dorival focuses on skill building through various exercises which he expects to be done daily. He is all about creating good habits from the start, focusing on breathing techniques, embouchure, use of tongue, rhythm and reading music. My daughter states that skills she learned from Dorival two years ago are skills fellow students in the band are learning now. He encourages students to listen to the great trumpet players of the past and present in order to increase their appreciation of these players’ skills and tone. He provides short etudes as well as focuses with students on their own required schoolwork such as band pieces, IGSMA competitions, junior honor band literature and if interested, recitals. Dorival has built a wonderful rapport with my daughter, using humor, wise life lessons that act as metaphors for practicing skills and how to play a piece. He has high expectations, but my daughter is motivated to improve her skills because of her relationship with Dorival, not just to win a competition or get a higher chair placement. Her appreciation and love of music has evolved and grown because of her lessons with him.