I studied with Claude Gordon in the years of 1969-72. When I started I was
attending college at San Diego State College and would drive up to LA (Ventura)
once every 2 weeks for an hour lesson. I can't remember what he
charged. I do remember you got a discount if you paid the month in
advance.
During that time I transferred to San Fernando Valley State College, now Cal
State Northridge, and continued to study with Claude. During that period, I quit school to join the Don Ellis Orchestra, but I kept
studying with Claude. I recorded two albums, two movie soundtracks,
and several jingles while I was with Don Ellis, studying with Claude the whole
time.
In late 1971, I moved to Reno to play in the casino house band, and have lived
here ever since. I continued to study with Claude for a short
time but it became harder and harder to get to LA (over 500 miles). I
believe in Claude's method on teaching for the most part. Many of his
students are criticized for being brash or having a brash sound, and some of
that is true. The positive part of Claude's method is the structure and
the broad scope covering most aspects of trumpet playing, and if you followed
his method, you could do most everything demanded of you on the horn. The
downside was basically soft and delicate playing. This was not emphasized,
it was for the most part left out, thus some players developed harsh
sounds. It came to me years later that this was the only thing
missing. If you could go back and do the lessons, while putting in soft
and slow playing, then you became an even better player. Claude was always
positive, which was a necessity for many and most players. But he was the
same with everyone. Some players benefited more from getting beat up, ala
John Clyman, and they were not the best of his students.
I only know a few other guys who have studied with him, but that's because I'm
rather reserved. I still have all the material from him and I was a
determining factor in getting the book, Claude Gordon, Daily Trumpet Routines,
published, I helped him print and but the book together and I have the first
copy, in manuscript (blueprint type copied, not the actual manuscript), and
autographed by him saying first book off the press. Since then I believe
it has been published by Carl Fisher. Mine is larger, say 9 1/2 by 12
1/2. Definitely a collectors Item. I also helped him get the CG
Benge trumpet going as a bought the first 5 or 6 ever made and brought them to
Reno for some of the guys to buy, I believe they are still around here. I
always played a Bach but many guys liked the Benge.
I have no pictures, no funny or great stories and nothing special to
contribute other than this book and being one of his better students. Most
of the students around that time know who I am. I still play as much as
possible, there is still work in Reno. This weekend I am playing lead trumpet at
Harrah's Casino for the Four Tops. I am also lead trumpet and leader of a
new big band in Reno called the Reno Jazz Orchestra.
