Students of Wayne Cameron have been accepted with scholarship to Eastman School of Music, Oberlin, Berkley School of Music, Shenandoah Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Manhatten School of Music and Peabody Conservatory of Music, just to name a few…

Student Comments

“I studied trumpet with Wayne Cameron from 2003-2005 while I was a graduate student at the Peabody Conservatory. Working with Wayne was a transformative musical experience from the very beginning. My single and multiple tonguing sped up, my endurance improved, my high range expanded (a lot!!). He has the unique ability to instantly detect and diagnose even the smallest and most elusive deficiency in a player’s technique. Due to his unsurpassed understanding of all aspects of trumpet technique, his teaching has a laser-like focus: he gets immediately to the heart of any difficulty and offers direct, no-nonsense solutions that actually work. I am personally grateful for the way that he helped me to overcome and adujust to my difficulties with a jaw injury (TMJ). However, the really impressive thing about his teaching is the way he balances the development of raw trumpet technique with the far more important problems of refined musical intrepretation and expression. He is much more interested in developing a complete musician than in simply training another trumpet player. Wayne has an encyclopedic knowledge of the musical repertoire, which includes but extends far beyond the limited number of Sonatas and Concertos that are usually heard in trumpet recitals. Wayne Cameron will challenge your assumptions and surprise you again and again. I recommend him whole-heartedly to all students of the trumpet.”

—Daniel Norris

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“Wayne has extraordinary insight on the physical and psychological playing problems on the level of the individual, and is exceedingly adept at making minor alterations in his approach on a case-by-case basis.  I studied with him for 8 years (3 in high school, and 5 in college), I would not be playing trumpet today if it weren’t for him.  Whenever problems creep into my playing, especially recently, I have always been able to solve them using something, either physical or psychological, that Wayne had mentioned over the years.  If there is a real physical problem, he won’t frustrate you with the Jedi school of trumpet playing and tell you to “see the note, hear the note, be the note, and use the force.”  NOW, if there are no physical problems, he might teach along these lines…..but he isn’t afraid to take a physically, “embouchure-centric” oriented approach if need be.

As far as embouchures are concerned, he is strongly rooted in the approaches of Farkas and Mendez, stressing the need for a flat chin, firm corners, and perhaps most importantly, overall embouchure autonomy.  He believes very strongly that efficient playing stems from a healthy and functional “free-buzz” (buzzing without the mouthpiece), which in turn is is transferred to the mouthpiece, and ultimately the trumpet.  Problems arise when there is a disruption in this chain.

Whenever people make posts about their playing problems on Trumpet Herald (which contains a widely read forum), Wayne’s name invariably will surface in the replies as one of the top “repair men” to seek out.  In fact, a frequent poster with two degrees from Juilliard frequently cites him as the guy to go to to solve playing problems.

When my interest began to shift more towards a jazz piano direction later in college, Wayne strongly encouraged that.  This meant a great deal to me, as I have heard horror stories about teachers who think jazz is a “four-letter word.”  He never thought you were less of a musician if you expressed interest in things other than the trumpet.

Wayne’s style of teaching is tremendously confidence boosting; he is extremely adept at making the student feel important and wanted…I looked forward to my lesson each week, in fact basing my college decision solely on his faculty presence.”

—Greg Small

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“I was in Mr. Cameron’s studio at Peabody Conservatory from 1987 to 1991, but I actually met him while I was in High School at the Maryland Solo Festival. He was one of the judges, and I remember that his comments were extremely relevant, not only regarding trumpet technique, but musicality as well.

When I arrived at Peabody, my trumpet playing was a mess. But I think I was in extreme denial. I remember we had a lesson before the first semester started, and Wayne asked me to play a 2 octave C scale. I couldn’t do it. My flexibility was terrible, my air was weak, and I had no endurance. My previous teacher Lee Stevens had changed my embouchure 3 years earlier, and, although I had improved enough to get through my Peabody audition, I still wasn’t physically ready to take on the challenges of 4 years at Peabody. Never in those 4 years did Mr. Cameron give up on me. We even changed my embouchure again half way through my second year. Mr. Cameron is the kind of teacher that loves to solve problems , and always tailors his lessons to the individual needs of the student. Wayne teaches in a very honest, open way, and I believe that he genuinely cares about every trumpet student that comes through Peabody.

Mr. Cameron is great at solving physical problems, but he also knows a lot about music. He is as great with Solo literature as he is with Orchestral excerpts. He was also one of the few people at Peabody who was open to jazz music , and while not a jazz soloist himself, could point students down a path of jazz and studio playing if he thought that’s where they were headed. He believed that the technique of producing sound on the trumpet would be the same whether you are into Maurice Andre or Miles Davis.

I was there when Mr. Cameron went through his own physical problems and it was amazing to watch him go from not being able to play at all, to coming back and being able to play solo literature. He showed us a lot about how much determination it takes to play music.

I didn’t end up as a professional trumpeter, but I have enjoyed a career as a jazz pianist, and I have been fortunate to do many recordings and travel around the world with many jazz greats. But I consider my lessons with Mr. Cameron to be a huge part of my musical development. It has also taught me to love teaching and to have patience with every student.

If you are looking to improve you trumpet playing, Mr Cameron is the one to study with. He will get results.”

—George Colligan

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“Other teachers have showed me what I was doing wrong, but you were the first to tell me how to fix it.”

—Ben Fuller

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“With the help of Wayne, I am now an excellent trumpet player. I used to play the trumpet with a “weird” embochure. I would push my lips forward and as a result my range suffered along with my stamina. I am now playing better than ever because of Wayne’s much needed help. Wayne is the best trumpet instructor i’ve ever met and nicest. He’s great to joke around with and just have fun. We made this embochure change in less than 2 months and it is great. Thanks Wayne!”

—Darin Ashwood

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“After studying with Mr. Cameron for one semester I noticed a drastic increase in the consistency of my playing. I went from having really good days and really bad days to really good days and average days.”

—Bob Harlow

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“The page looks great!!! The comments are everything I know you to be. The hundreds of students I have had the privilege to teach have directly benefited from the years of guidance I received from you. Whether sounding Taps for a fallen hero or standing in front of my middle school band I have a confidence that comes from knowing I am fully prepared mentally and physically. This ability you have given me to recognize and correct my deficiencies is critical to my being able to not only play and teach professionally but also to grow as a husband and father. I hope I can continue your legacy by paying it forward.”

—MUC John Babcock
U.S. Naval Academy Band
Carrollton Brass
Severn School
Peabody BM ’87, MM ‘89

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“When I first met Mr. Cameron 3 years ago, I was a second rate trumpet player with marginal talent. With Wayne’s guidance and encouragement he has given me the confidence and the skills to succeed in the music world. His name commands recognition, respect and as a result of his recommendations and tutelage I am now a full time working musician. Wayne Cameron has been my most important and defining musical influence.”

—Jacob Wolfson

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“When I first came to Peabody as a freshman, I had a long list of physical problems. Among them were weak embouchure, no endurance, and no high range. Wayne always had practical and creative solutions to meet my needs as a player. I have played six recitals at Peabody so far, never concerning myself with endurance or high range because of the foundation I received from Wayne. Recently, I have been performing the Tomasi Concerto through out the Baltimore area with a confidence that came though my lessons with Wayne. Thanks Wayne!”

—John Malloy

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“Wayne Cameron is the trumpet troubleshooter. Over the past three years myplaying has improved by leaps and bounds. I could not imagine my colligate experience without Wayne Cameron.”

—Chris Palffy

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“Whenever I have a problem, it takes Mr. Cameron about 2 minutes to fix it, and it is never a problem again. He doesnt just fix it for you so you can fall back into it by the next lesson, he teaches you how to prevent the issue from occuring. Mr. Cameron has quickly become a friend and has a great sense of humor. It only took about 2 weeks (2 lessons) before lessons felt completely normal.”

—Brandon Lebe

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“Mr. Cameron is an exceptional teacher and mentor with a keen ability to identify and correct playing problems, technical or stylistic. After hearing me play only once, Mr. Cameron diagnosed my difficulties and helped me understand how to fix them. He also has a very personal approach to teaching; the lesson is geared for each individual student. Mr. Cameron is an outstanding teacher with professional expertise and a personal touch.”

—Seth Long

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I studied with Wayne for 6 years during high school and college. He taught me how to continuously self-evaluate my playing and I developed a rich tone that was even across registers, smooth articulations, and expressive skills that made the music come alive. When I had difficulties with my embouchure, he always had a new analogy to relate to the physical experiences of playing. He teaches you how to teach yourself and diagnose any problems you might have. Wayne is an amazing teacher and is one of the most influential teachers I have ever had.

—Melissa Wittnebel

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“I have been a student of Wayne Camerons for the past five years.  However I recently graduated college and have finished my time with Wayne.  I am currently a band director in Jefferson County WV.  Over the past five years with Wayne, I have learned more than I could learn in a lifetime.  I would not have made it through college without Wayne.  He was not only a private Trumpet Instructor to me, he was a mentor and counselor.  When I first began lessons with him, I was not a very good player.  From my first few lessons he knew exactly what to tell me to do in order for me to become a better trumpet player.  He was never overwhelming when it came to learning the trumpet, however He did explain that the trumpet needed to be a top priority if I wanted to be the best I could be at the trumpet.  Throughout specific lessons he could listen to me play several notes and know exactly what I was doing wrong.   He knows how to relate playing the trumpet to anything, esp. things that relate to your personal life.  He is very personal, yet he keeps the student/teacher relationship very professional. His knowledge of the trumpet and trumpet playing is the highest I have ever seen.  Other than my parents, Wayne Cameron is the best teacher I have ever had.  He taught me so much about the trumpet, music, and life.  I think about Wayne daily and know that his teachings will stay with me throughout my career and my life.”

—Rachel Barb

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“This man has been truly sent on Earth by God to be a trumpet teacher. He has a remarkable ability to see his student’s problems whenever they’re playing. In order to make the person a better trumpet player, he helps fix the person’s problem out of compassion and concern. This style is not common, and that is why it works. He fully encourages the person to do their best, and is always 100% accurate when it comes to any hindrance in one’s playing ability. He points out the obvious and basics of what is needed to play the trumpet, and that is what is needed. Most people forget the basics! Through his wonderful gift, Mr. Cameron gently and clearly points out the basics, and helps his students get through their barriers. His style of teaching is very successful, in that from studying under him, all his students have grown.

On top of his remarkable gift of being a trumpet teacher, Wayne Cameron is a very compassionate and humble man. He gives his all in what he does. I cannot imagine any person who knows Mr. Cameron, not being thankful for him being a part of their lives.

I have known Mr. Cameron for almost three years, and there is not one minute I regret of knowing him. He has opened up many doors for me in the future and has offered me many opportunities to take advantage of. Mr. Cameron exudes goodness wherever he goes. He is a big part of my life, as I have in no doubt in everyone else’s that know him. Mr. Cameron is truly one of the best the world has to offer. He has touched so many lives in the most positive of ways. I owe him so much for all that he has done for me, and just this simple letter will never be enough. Mr. Cameron is without a doubt gifted by God in all the things he does.”

—Sam Maconachy

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“Dear Wayne: this is my first solo recording and I would like you to have a copy of it. I would also like to thank you for all of the help and advice you gave me while I was at Peabody. It has served me well and I would not have been able to play these live performances without it.”

—Dan Snurr

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“Hey Wayne, checking in with the chop doctor…every day i recall your teachings on all the technical aspects of playing, and appreciate what your knowledge has done for my ability to get around on the trumpet. ”

—Chris Aschman