Marcus Gonzalez

Hello! My name is Marcus. I’ve been playing trumpet since 2011 and I’ve been teaching trumpet since 2019. I've attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 2019 to 2023 and while there, I studied with Eric Berlin and Steve Felix. In my time at UMass, I participated in the National Trumpet Competition twice with the university trumpet ensemble, I formed a brass quintet that still remains active post-grad, and I recorded an album with the university wind ensemble featuring Greg Spiridopoulos. From 2023 to 2025, I earned a masters degree from the Manhattan School of Music studying under various members of the MET Opera and New York Philharmonic. Outside of music, I enjoy walking in the nature of Southern Connecticut, reading up on modern technology, and taking care of my cats Maxine and Brandy.

Generally speaking, brass teachers will use a small handful of books to provide exercises and etudes for their students. Some standard books include the Arban's, Bordogni, and Clarke methods/etude books. These books contain important fundamentals, and it is important to know and practice the exercises these book provide. However, too many people use these books, and the exercises within them, as items on a checklist. This is not the case in my teaching. I use these exercises as a foundation for my own teaching but I alter the exercises in ways that challenge and expand on my students' understanding of their instrument. In doing this, I've started compiling my own packet of exercises and etudes that are specifically designed to compliment my teaching style by having my students think about the things they play in more than just black and white terms.