BILL HICKS
BAND LEADER, TRUMPET SOLOIST AND TEACHER

TRUMPET LESSONS:
Former lead trumpet player with the Harry James Band, Bill Hicks was a student of the late Claude Gordon. For 17 years while playing professionally in Los Angeles, Bill Hicks studied with Gordon, the "King of Brass." Band leader, studio musician, teacher and author, Gordon left his legacy through thousands of students - like Bill Hicks - and their student "offsping" and method books, which can still be purchased today. For more than a decade, Gordon was first trumpeter with the CBS Orchestra.
While working as a professional player on the west coast, Bill Hicks would meet with Gordon at every opportunity, catching him for coffee after gigs, to absorb as much as possible from this trumpet master. Just like Claude used to do, Bill sits behind a desk writing out the next lesson while the student begins his or her lesson.
Bill Hicks emphasizes a "physical approach" to trumpet playing, conditioning through rigorous routines -- following his teaching from Claude Gordon to a T.
Studying with Bill Hicks, whose studio is located near Denver, Pa., will prepare the professional player to meet every challenge and will help the young student blossom into an enterprising player. Bill Hicks works with a range of students from advanced to beginners.
Bill Hicks drills students on the basics. Though his teaching is based primarily on Claude Gordon's routines, he also hits a wide variety of other basic trumpet method books. Bill Hicks teaches students how to practice - and how to handle the trumpet in all situations.
A student of Bill Hicks - with motivation and correct practice -- will dramatically improve his or her upper and lower range, attacks, lip flexibility and all-around playing. It will prepare the young student to move into classical or dance band material. His students learn how to handle the horn.
Bill Hicks is a perfectionist with his students. It shows in his work and their work.
In addition to studying with Claude Gordon, Bill Hicks played in Gordon's nationally-recognized big band. He was a member of the U.S. Army Band and has played with a long list of artists ranging from Natalie Cole and the Four Tops to Frank Sinatra. He has a list of recording, film and TV credits. Bill has his own band, Big Band Nostalgia, based in Denver, Pa. He also heads up Combo Nostalgia, a seven-piece combo, and The Bill Hicks Brass, a quintet which plays throughout central Pennsylvania. Bill's bands play throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. He has appeared as a soloist with the Harrisburg Concert Band, West Shore Symphony and has been a member of the American Music Theatre Orchestra in Lancaster, Pa. since 1997.

For more information about lessons from Bill Hicks:

E-mail: bbn@paonline.com