Trumpet
Trumpeter Joseph P. Grasso Jr has distinguished himself as a soloist, chamber artist, orchestral player, and teacher. As a member of the United States Air Force Bands from 1989 to 2013, he performed worldwide, premiered more than 15 new works for brass and concert band, and is heard on more than 25 recordings. He contributed many of his own brass quintet arrangements, and he was instrumental in recordings as a principal player and soloist.
As a soloist, Grasso has appeared with the various Air Force Bands worldwide and featured at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute in 1999 and the Great American Brass Band Festival in 2002. He has performed with the Ringling Brothers Circus, Ice Capades, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, BJ Thomas, Lee Greenwod, The Letterman, James Thompson, Fred Mills, The Miracles, Crystal Gayle, Wynonna Judd, Christ Church Choir, Faith Hill, Celine Dion, and the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quartet.
Grasso, retired as trumpeter of the United States Air Force Band, Washington, DC in 2013. This is the Premiere Band that provides support for the President of the United States and foreign dignitaries. He was formerly a member of the USAF Ceremonial Brass, Air University Band, USAFR Band, Max Brass, Hot Cross Brass, Western CT Symphony Orchestra, Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, Macon Symphony Orchestra and has performed and recorded with many ensembles including the Mehlingen Brass Band and Kaiserslautern Symphony in Germany. He has been on the trumpet faculty at Wellston Conservatory from 1991-2000. Today, he is a sought after clinician/adjudicator for state level, collegiate, and educational outreach initiatives. Born in Newtown, Connecticut, Grasso received his bachelor's degree in 1985 from the Western Connecticut State University and was a TA as a graduate student at the University of Connecticut, where he was a student of Daniel Patrylak. His other teachers include Ron Stinson, Robert Nagle, James Thompson, and Raymond Mase.
Do you want to jam with your friends? Maybe just rock out for fun? Learn to play jazz, classical, or band music! Perhaps you'd like to play trumpet as a stress reliever or for physical therapy? Learn the fundamentals of playing a brass instrument, from keeping a basic, steady tempo, to playing the lead trumpet through chord changes of a jazz ensemble. Maybe you always wanted to learn to play trumpet but never had the time. Learning to play an instrument will develop problem solving skills, discipline, and self expression.
Tune your instrument
Play with proper technique
Use music theory
Play like your favorite artists!