"Praise Him with trumpet sound"

Not all of us have our instruments directly mentioned in the Bible, but John does!  Here is an interview revealing some insights into his musical life.

Why did you decide to learn trumpet?

A boy that lived down the street from me played the trumpet. I heard him and decided that I would like to learn to play it. I was 8 years old at the time. My mother wanted me to play the piano, since we had one in the house, but that was not for me. We borrowed a Cornet for a year, I took lessons, then bought a trumpet of my own. When I was 15, I then travelled to Toronto every other weekend to take lessons from a well-known trumpet player. 10 years later I received The Associate of The Royal Conservatory (ARCT) diploma for Performance in trumpet from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto.

What other instruments can you play?

I used to play the upright Bass (played that for four years in High School), played the Clarinet for a few years in High School, the flute for a year and I was the Junior Organist at the Lutheran Church in Port Colborne where I used to attend. I also have my Grade 9 Piano with the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto.

How often do you practice the trumpet?

I try to practise at least every other day. It is necessary to keep the lip in shape. It doesn’t take long for it to go soft and then it is a difficult road to get it back in shape.

What are some specific practice strategies you use?

To get me to practise regularly, I use CD backup tracks albums. Over the years I have purchased over 40 backup CDs, each having 10-12 songs per CD. Each CD runs approximately 30-35 minutes and that keeps me practising for 30-35 minutes at a time.

Why do you enjoy playing the trumpet for worship services?

I enjoy it because I know that my playing touches people’s hearts. That gives me great satisfaction. It also helps that I really love to play. I thrive on the live performances but do not like to rehearse!

What other groups have you played with?

In my younger years during High School, I played with a 9 piece Soul band and then later on a Rock band. I later joined up with a wedding band (for 16 years) and have played in Concert bands as well as 16 piece dance bands. I was trained classically but have played many musical styles over the years. I also occasionally play trumpet for two church choirs in Niagara Falls.

Who are your favourite artists? 

Francesca Battistelli and Meredith Andrews

What are your favourite songs right now? 

“Open Up the Heavens” by Meredith Andrews and “Angel by My Side” by Francesca Battistelli

Do you have any other comments about worship?

I really enjoy playing the Contemporary Worship songs. It allows me to freely express myself since there are no trumpet parts scored for me. I follow the chord and lead charts and just fill in whatever comes to my mind and what I feel will enhance the sound of the Worship Team.