Professional commercial and studio freelance trumpeter Greg Spence, is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) a faculty of The University of Melbourne and is one of the most in-demand commercial session trumpet players in the Australia.
Soon after graduation, Greg toured Australia with American comic legend Jerry Lewis and played with the great Shirley Bassey at the Melbourne Concert Hall. He has since performed with numerous international stars doing television shows such as the annual TV Week Logie Awards, the Carols by Candlelight, IMT, Hey Hey It's Saturday, John Foreman's Big Night In, It Takes Two and 11 series of the smash hit Dancing with the Stars.
In 2007 Greg performed with Herbie Hancock at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) with the Queensland Symphony. In 2008 he toured with James Morrison and Deni Hines and in 2009 Greg travelled to New York to play at Carnegie Hall as part of G'Day USA Australia Week in New York with the Adelaide Symphony.
A message from Greg Spence - Trumpeter/Author
There are innate traps that only the lucky few avoid when beginning their trumpet playing. Overblowing and lip pinching are the primary problems I see in 99% of my students. It is very easy to recognise these issues having done them myself for so many years.
Over the last 25 years, I have researched many methods and approaches for improving on the trumpet. Being self taught originally, I have fallen into most of the many traps that the trumpet can present you with.
I am inspired by my idols Maynard Ferguson, Raphael Mendez, Bobby Shew, Doc Severensen, James Morrison, Bill Chase, Lee Morgan, Maurice Andre and the likes.
I have dedicated my life to this wonderful instrument and in doing so have learnt amazing information from world renowned teachers such as James Stamp, Claude Gordon, Carmine Caruso, Dr Charles Colin, Max Schlossberg, Jerome Callet, Bill Adam, Arnold Jacobs and Jean Baptiste Arban. Although these methods are quite different in their approach, they all have an underlying message that has helped me to progress my playing way beyond my expectations and this same information will undoubtedly help you in your quest for trumpet mastery.
Above that, I dedicate this method book to Maynard Ferguson, Bobby Shew, Roger Ingram, Allan Vizzutti, Wayne Bergeron, Charlie Davis, Arturo Sandoval, Chuck Findlay, Gary Grant and Lew Solloff, all of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting personally and talking trumpet with. I have also been lucky enough to have had lessons with or been to masterclasses and workshops by all of the above mentioned Superstars.
The aim when writing this book was to compile and explain this information in the clearest most concise way for players of all standards, then to combine basic to advanced exercises and to demonstrate them on CD. That is the real key to the success of this book - a step by step guide to help you understand, to hear and to copy!
I am very proud to have received brilliant feedback from players from all over the world. It has certainly made the hundreds if not thousands of hours that I have put into practise and research over the years very worthwhile.
Please enjoy the book and I am sure you will find plenty of information at this site to keep you motivated on your lifelong trumpet journey.
Best Wishes,
Greg Spence
Here are some photos of Greg
with some of his idols:
Greg was lucky enough to meet the MAN himself, Maynard Ferguson in 2002 when he was on tour in Australia. This photo was taken outside Bennetts Lane, a Melbourne jazz club. The crowd screamed after hearing him warm up: an octave gliss to Double G, a shake and a doit!
Greg rehearsing with Wayne Bergeron at the Melbourne International Festival Of Brass.
The gig!
Greg with Allen Vizzutti and Paul Panichi at Melbourne International Festival of Brass