Instruction

Todd Butler is a college lecturer, trumpet instructor, adjudicator and clinician. He visits numerous schools and festivals while working with over 50 private trumpet students weekly. Todd has been an educator for over 30 years and in that time, he has taught at 10 different schools as a trumpet instructor, ensemble director and course lecturer, specializing in Music Business, American Popular Music and Jazz History.

As a trumpet instructor, Todd has taught over 75,000 trumpet lessons and has helped many students find fun and enjoyment in learning while drastically improving their skills and knowledge of different styles of music. He also has many years of experience teaching online lessons and coaching, using several different platforms and formats.

Todd's students have excelled in their school bands, county and state bands, solo & ensemble festivals, and college auditions. They have earned partial and full college scholarships and many other accolades.

Todd has developed his own method for overcoming performance and audition anxiety. Through this method, he has been able to help students of the trumpet and other instruments increase their productivity and performance skills. Todd’s practical, straight-forward approach to teaching jazz improvisation is very accessible to students and helps them develop the ability to take doubt and fear out of playing improvised solos.

Todd is available as a speaker, clinician, adjudicator, instructor, lecturer and guest soloist.

Todd is also a featured instructor in his new educational resource company, Music Reading Class.

Todd Butler is a Yamaha Artist and Clinician.

Todd has that wonderful combination of being a fabulous player and a great educator, and he can effectively disseminate his knowledge to students of all ages and playing abilities.

- Barry Enzman, Glenelg High School (retired)

Todd's professionalism in his playing and teaching are beyond reproach.

- Jim McFalls, Towson University

Todd Butler is a consummate professional with a gentle approach to learning and enabling students of all ages to be courageous and inquisitive.

- Lee Stevens, Atholton High School (retired)

Todd is a master musician and inspirational teacher who develops the highest potential in the students he teaches.

- Sue Wilson, Ridgley Middle School (retired)

In addition to being a phenomenal trumpet player, Todd has a true gift of immediately connecting with the students through an effective rapport that motivates the students to learn and have fun.

- G. Alex Mueller, Riderwood & Warren Elementary Schools

I have known Todd for 20 years and he is the consummate professional in every way.

- Jonathan Sindler, Mount View Middle School

Todd Butler is a consummate musician and talented professional who performs in a wide variety of styles.

- Andrew Spang, Folly Quarter Middle School

Todd is an excellent musician and mentor teacher for classical and jazz music.

- Brandi Jason, Liberty High School

Todd completely customizes performance sessions for my students that are engaging, informative, and appropriate for all learning styles, while still maintaining a high level of artistry and performance.

- Christopher Campbell, Archbishop Curley High School

Todd brings his vast, real-world musical experiences into the classroom and provides a high level of passion that is contagious with students.

- Jeff Summers, Mt. Airy Middle School

Todd is a phenomenal clinician, going above and beyond in showing what a great art music is.

- Jim Carlson, Cockeysville Middle School

Todd has an upbeat manner and the information that he presented was something that all students could use.

- Lew Dutrow, Wilde Lake High School (retired)

Todd’s trumpet clinics never disappoint!

- Alison Tunison, Lutherville Lab Elementary School

Todd brings a host of skills as a clinician; he is well prepared and connects well with students of all ages.

- Christa Hise, Mays Chapel Elementary School
Todd has been fortunate to have worked and shared with so many great students and directors over the past 30+ years as a clinician and guest artist. He has performed several hundred clinics and workshops with students of all ages. The approach and style that he has developed enables him to teach and motivate students while still emphasizing the fun and enjoyment of music.

Trumpet Presentation

The Trumpet Presentation is a fun, educational clinic that can be customized for grades 4-12. In this presentation, Todd discusses and plays various trumpets, trumpet-related instruments and trumpet mutes using familiar performance examples. Musical history, brass instrument playing concepts, performance techniques and many other subjects are shared during the constant interaction of this clinic.

Trumpet Clinic

The Trumpet Clinic covers everything from trumpet fundamentals to playing techniques in various styles of music, and beyond. This is a fluid, interactive clinic where one discussion always leads to another. Directors are encouraged to request areas of focus. Some common topics are: breathing, tone, articulation, intonation, range, endurance, practice techniques, blending and ensemble playing, listening, interpretation, performance anxiety, auditioning, playing with emotion and passion and having fun in the process.

Jazz Improvisation Clinic

With a graduate degree in Jazz Performance and over 30 years of teaching jazz improvisation, Todd has developed a very practical, straight-forward approach that is extremely accessible to students. Todd’s students have been featured soloists in their school bands, County and All-State Jazz Ensembles and have received partial and full college scholarships based on their ability to play jazz and other styles. The Jazz Improvisation Clinic allows Todd to share some of the fundamental concepts of this method and take the fear out of jazz improvisation while motivating students to take the first steps. Solo sections from the school jazz ensemble’s repertoire can easily be included in this clinic.

Jazz Ensemble Workshop

The Jazz Ensemble Workshop covers different aspects of jazz ensemble interaction, rehearsal and performance. This clinic addresses the specific needs of the ensemble as requested by the ensemble director or determined during the clinic. Always fun with plenty of interaction!

Trumpet Playing / Embouchure Assessment

As an embouchure specialist and a firm believer that every trumpet player has their own unique playing style, Todd has been very successful at making “on the spot” playing and embouchure evaluations that result in immediate, noticeable improvement. Very often these instant improvements are drastic and inspiring to students. Giving individual students quick assessments and pointers in a group setting, in a way that is not intimidating or isolating, always provokes discussion on playing fundamentals and the embouchure. A Trumpet Playing / Embouchure Assessment with an entire trumpet section often adds to a sense of camaraderie, as we all share many of the same challenges.

Performance and Audition Anxiety Clinic

In this clinic, Todd shares his proven method for understanding, embracing and overcoming performance and audition anxiety. Students will leave the Performance and Audition Anxiety Clinic with practical tools that they can use in pressure situations. These tools and concepts can easily be applied to similar situations such as public speaking, test-taking and interviews.

Brass and Trumpet Sectionals

Brass and Trumpet Sectionals focus on directors' requests in preparation for concerts, adjudications, festivals or just overall improvement.