Arkansas State Trumpet Studio

The trumpet studio at Arkansas State University is comprised of music majors at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The undergraduate degrees offered are Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Music Performance and Bachelor of Arts. Our graduate degrees are Master of Music in Performance and Master of Music Education. The A-State Trumpet studio has earned an international reputation after decades of outstanding student and faculty accomplishments. Former faculty and current trumpet professor, Dr. Nairam Simoes, have been featured as guest artists and competition coordinators in multiple International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Conferences and other international music events. Students have also performed in the ITG prelude, festival of trumpets and have advanced to the semi-finals of the chamber music competition. Furthermore, A-State trumpet students have repeatedly advanced and competed in the National Trumpet Competition (NTC) solo and ensemble divisions. Additional information about the Music Department can be found here.

Financial Aid

At A-State our band scholarship program is one of the best in the entire Mid-South. Every eligible student in the A-State Bands, both music majors and non-music majors, receives some type of scholarship. Our top band scholarship is nearly $5,000 per year. Auditions may be scheduled at the convenience of the student but should be completed by March 1. Due to scholarship demand, auditions after March 1 might place the applicant on our scholarship wait list.

Audition Requirements

Audition materials usually are drawn from the student’s current All-State/All-Region materials, scales, and sight-reading. Additional information can be found here. Auditions can be scheduled using this form.

National Selectivity

AStudents come from all over the country to study trumpet at A-State. In recent years, we have had students from Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, Kansas, and Arkansas.

Teaching Pedagogy

Dr. Simoes teaching is based on meeting students where they are in their career by carefully designing a plan of study to address students’ perceived weaknesses and strengthening them. He believes in adapting his teaching to meet the many diverse styles of learning that students have. Dr. Simoes believes in a shift from a teacher centered environment to a student-centered pedagogy. This requires the teacher to remove themselves from front and center, becoming more of a guide on the side rather than a sage on the stage. This opens opportunities to not merely teach, but to coach, to mentor, to nurture and to inspire.

Guest Artists

Since Dr. Simoes arrival in 2020, there have been more than 50 guest trumpet artists from around the world! These guest artists include: Marie Speziale (first woman trumpeter in a major symphony orchestra, emeritus trumpet professor at Rice University), Dr. Jason Bergman (Associate Professor of Trumpet at Indiana University), Dr. Maico Lopes (Trumpet Professor at University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Dr. Scott Belck (Director of Jazz at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music), Adam Rapa (International Trumpet Extraordinaire), Michael Sachs (Principal Trumpet Cleveland Symphony Orchestra), Dr. Ryan Gardner (Associate Professor of Trumpet at the University of Colorado Boulder), Pershing’s Own Trumpet Section, Vincent DiMartino (International Soloist), among many others. In the last three years, A-State hosted over 50 guest artist trumpet players.

Environment

The A-State Trumpet Studio is a high-energy, high-expectation learning environment. We believe in fostering an environment that welcomes diversity and embraces inclusivity, here students have a sense of belonging. Students receive instruction from Dr. Simoes and extra-lessons with Graduate Teaching Assistants. In addition, every Thursday from 11:00a – 12:15p, all trumpet students come together for studio class. Other opportunities include Performance & Pedagogy class, Trumpet Ensembles and Brass Quintet.

Can I visit the Music Department and meet or take a lesson with Dr. Simoes?

Absolutely! I am happy to meet with prospective graduate and undergraduate students and tell you all about the trumpet studio here at A-State. We can schedule a meeting or a lesson, whichever you prefer.

We can even arrange for you to shadow a A-State trumpet student and spend a day visiting our trumpet studio class, general music classes, and observing ensembles.