EDUCATION
1985-1988
(July/August)
Banff Centre of Fine Arts
Summer Jazz Institute – Advanced study of jazz performance, improvisation, composition, and arranging. Performances with Dave Holland. Cecil Taylor, Muhal Richard Abrahms, David Liebman, Richie Beirach, Kenny Wheeler, Pat LaBarbara, Julian Priester, Steve Coleman, Marvin Smith.
1983-1986
The University of Miami
Studio Music and Jazz, Concert Jazz Band, Monk/Mingus Ensemble, Bebop Ensemble, ECM Ensemble, Trumpet.
1981-1983
The Juilliard School
Classical Trumpet, Orchestral Performance, Juilliard Orchestra.
1978-1981
Interlochen Arts Academy (High School Grades 10-12)
Trumpet, Band, Orchestra, Studio Orchestra, Brass Ensemble, Choir.
Summers, 1975- 1979, 1981
Interlochen Arts Camp (formerly National Music Camp) 8-weeks
Junior Orchestra (principal trumpet), Intermediate Band (1st Chair), Intermediate Orchestra (principal), H.S. Jazz Band (lead trumpet), World Youth Symphony Orchestra (section 78-79, principal ’81)
Summer 1980
Henry Ford Community College Summer Jazz Institute
Classes in improvisation, arranging, small group, and big band performance.
1968-1977
Ferndale, Michigan, Public Schools (Grades K-9)
TEACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2009-2010
Rutgers University, Artist-in-residence Duties included coaching jazz combos, trumpet master classes, arranging classes, big band rehearsals and sectionals, private lessons, and five performances with the Jazz Ensemble, including performances with Conrad Herwig, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Faddis, Terrell Stafford, Sean Jones, Tom ‘Bones’ Malone, Mike Williams, and Paquito D’Rivera
Jan 2011
Newark, NY, High School Jazz Program Three day residency with duties including general music clinics and demonstrations for primary and secondary students, coaching of Wind Ensemble, Choir, Jazz Vocal Ensemble, and two performances with the High School Jazz Ensemble.
April 2010
Northwestern Michigan College, Guest Artist/Clinician Master classes in studio music production, demonstrated Pro Tools, Sibelius, Ableton Live, Logic, Garage Band, Reason. Played audio and video examples of commercial playing and writing work. Rehearsals and performance with NMC Jazz Ensemble. Brass master classes.
Jan 2010
Conservatorio de Galicia, La Coruña, Spain Four-hour master class for 50-60 trumpet players, “La Trompeta y tu” included Power Point presentation detailing physical aspects of trumpet performance. Topics included warm-ups, facial yoga, practice techniques, Walter White Long-tone Accompaniment, improvisation, and high-register development. Performed original pieces for multiple trumpets, critiqued student performances.
June 2008
International Trumpet Guild Conference, Banff, Alberta. Symposium Power Point presentation, demonstration, and discussion on the Walter White Long-tone Accompaniment CD and method. Assisted by Ingrid Jensen and Jens Lindeman.
Nov. 2008
Binghamton University Music Department 3-day residency conducting rehearsals, clinics, and a performance with the Harpur Jazz Ensemble featuring seven Walter White arrangements.
Apr. 2001,Oct. 2006,Nov. 2009
Tulsa University, Artist-in-residence, Duties included teaching classes in jazz arranging and composition, jazz history, and brass performance. Outreach tours, clinics, and multiple performances with the T.U. Jazz Ensembles.
Fall 2006
Wayne State University, Artist-in-residence Classes in improvisation, jazz combo coaching, private trumpet lessons, participation in jazz history, media, and recording classes. Four performances with the jazz ensemble, two performances with faculty jazz quintet.
March 2005
University of Victoria School of Music (British, Columbia) Master classes in arranging, brass performance, jazz improvisation. Concerts with UVic Jazz Orchestra.
2003-2004
Ithaca College Whalen Center for Music Adjunct lecturer. Duties included teaching Jazz Improvisation I, Music Calligraphy, and directing the Wednesday Night Jazz Lab Band. Guest artists: Conrad Herwig (Fall), and Andy Middleton (Spring)
1994, 2000
Michigan State University Trumpet master class, performance with MSU Jazz faculty Quintet with Wes Anderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Rodney Whitaker, Walter Blanding.
1982-2006 Summers
Interlochen Arts Camp Summer residencies, clinics on trumpet, studio recording/ midi, brass performance, arranging, improvisation, and performances with High School Jazz Ensembles.
1988, 1995
Interlochen Arts Academy Trumpet master classes, performances.
April 2006
Interlochen Arts Academy Clinic and performance with the I.A.A. Studio Orchestra with Peter Erskine, Xavier Davis, Darius Brubeck, celebrating Dave Sporny and 40 years of Jazz at Interlochen.
1986-1988 July/August
Banff Centre of Fine Arts, Summer Jazz Studies Faculty assistant to Kenny Wheeler. Assisted in trumpet and arranging master classes, devised group practice exercises utilizing jazz harmony, triads, and symmetric scales (diminished, augmented, tri-tone, whole-tone).
1988 – present
Private Instruction Trumpet, jazz improvisation, high register development and lead trumpet techniques, orchestral audition coaching, arranging and jazz composition, digital music technology (Sibelius, Pro Tools, Logic, etc), and studio production. One of my former students, who I coached in orchestral excerpts, became the first freshman trumpet player to win a chair in the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Here’s a recent note from another former student: Dan says, “Hi Walter, I doubt if you remember me, but I took a lesson with you about 4 years ago…worked on some Basie stuff and soloing over Stella in an effort to get ready for my North Texas grad school audition. Well, with your help, I made it and am about to graduate this May and have been playing lead in the One O’clock Lab Band for the past year and a half. Just wanted to say thanks!”
TRUMPET TEACHERS
William Vacchiano The Juilliard School
1981-1983
Mel Broiles Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Principal trumpet
1982-1983
Gil Johnson University of Miami
1983-1986
Kenny Wheeler Banff Centre of Fine Arts Summer Jazz Institute
1985-1988
Carmine Caruso Legendary NYC Wind and Brass instructor, author of The Caruso Method
1981-1983
John Lindenau Interlochen Arts Academy and Music Camp
1978-1981
Larry Herman Interlochen Arts Academy
1977-1978
Leon Rapier Interlochen National Music Camp
1977-1979
Jerome Amend Interlochen National Music Camp
1975-1979
Robert Brockett Royal Oak, Michigan
1975-1977