Student Testimonials |
"...and as an educator, his private students are consistently well prepared, fundamentally sound, and highly skilled." |
"After many years of lessons with Mr Flinchbaugh, he is by far the best music educator and trumpet player I’ve studied with. From teaching me how to play the trumpet with braces in middle school, to guiding me through auditions for undergraduate music programs, he was continuously supportive and sincere with his advice. He passed down his experiences and stories as a professional trumpet player, related to many of my challenges and struggles, and gave advice based on his own success in those situations. During my later years of study, he offered an inside viewpoint of the Maryland community of music directors, professors, performers, and programs to aid my continuing growth as a musician. Mr Flinchbaugh enabled me to truly fall in love with music and brought me into a community I plan in being a part of for the rest of my life."
~Josh Oberly, Baylor University, Engineering Major/Trumpet Minor
"Mr. Brent is an amazing private teacher! I've taken lessons from his studio for about 5 years and I have vastly improved throughout those years. During lessons, he builds a great foundation at the current level you are at and works at your own pace from there. Mr. Brent is a great communicator and will always ask how you feel, what you think, your opinions, etc., furthermore, he values the feedback and will try his best to compensate for anything neeeded. Also, he encourages you, talks you through anything confusing, demonstrates any techniques, etc. He truly is a wonderful and well- rounded teacher. His enthusiasm never waivers and Mr. Brent can really get you hyped to play trumpet. However, my favorite part of his teachings is that he teaches and encourages you to be more diligent in your trumpet performance, as well as, push you to your greatest potential. He really motivates you to do your very best and helps build that confidence throughout your lessons. all in all, he is fantastic and I couldn't have asked for a better teacher to help me throughout my high school preformance."
~Susie Park, Towson University, Art
"I started learning from Mr. Flinchbaugh back in elementary school, as a 4th grader. In the past 8 years, Mr. Flinchbaugh has guided me to an unforeseen level of trumpet playing. He kept lessons fun, challenging, and engaging with new repertoire every week. We also played duets and exercises with an emphasis on fundamentals, so that we would play any piece in the future without having to learn every note. Most importantly, Mr. Flinchbaugh taught me how to practice by myself without a teacher, and helped me realize the importance of hard work. He has been one of the most important influences of my life, and I am glad to have found him as a young trumpet player. Any trumpet player at any skill level and age would benefit from learning under Mr. Flinchbaugh."
~Joey Tsaiho, University of Florida, Business Major/Music Minor
"Mr. Flinchbaugh has been my private teacher since sixth grade, and he's the reason why I'm majoring in music performance. He's served as an inspiration for me, and I look forward to my lesson every single week! Mr. Flinchbaugh manages to keep me on task during my lessons while still making the time enjoyable, even when we're working on extremely difficult repertoire that I'm long tired of. His hard work and dedication has helped me succeed in multiple areas, from college auditions to Maryland All State. After seven years, I can honestly say that he's been one of the most influential people in my life, and the guidance he's provided me has shaped me into the person and player that I am today."
~Megan Radcliffe, Northwestern University, Trumpet Performance
"Mr. Flinchbaugh is a FANTASTIC private trumpet instructor! I have been taking lessons at his studio for two years. During this time, I have improved tremendously. Mr. Flinchbaugh has been pivotal in my growth as a classical trumpet player. Within the first two months of taking lessons with him, I earned a spot in the Centennial High School Wind Ensemble. My previous attempts had not been successful. Mr. Flinchbaugh teaches the perfect balance of technique, artistry, theory, and mental preparation. He encourages excellence without inducing anxiety. Mr. Flinchbaugh has introduced me to a broad repertoire and many important composers. Having reignited my interest in playing at a competitive level, Mr. Flinchbaugh helped me to successfully prepare for audition-only ensembles and college auditions. In the fall, I will begin my studies as a dual major in music education and trumpet performance. I highly recommend Mr. Flinchbaugh for anyone who has a serious interest in trumpet and personal growth."
~Josh Branker, Duquesne University, Trumpet Performance & Music Education
"Brent is a fantastic teacher who makes it easy for his students to get excited about trumpet playing. He has all the traits needed in a good teacher - responsible, disciplined, knowledgeable, and encouraging. Brent has the ability to help trumpet players build a solid foundation but also push them out of their comfort zone in order to improve. It is hard to find another teacher like him."
~John McMordie, Stanford University, Pennsylvania All State Band Member, All-Eastern Band Member
“Brent has been a very effective educator, being my private instructor. He has enthusiasm and passion for music, along with the dedication and knowledge of the hard work it takes to be such an asset. Through my personal experience from taken lessons with Brent, he has taught me to be a more well-rounded and confident instrumentalist. Through the many hours I practice to prepare my repertoire I understand why Brent is challenging me in a positive way, by making me play harder technical pieces. He has instilled in me a higher knowledge and level of musicianship to help me in my endeavors of being in a collegiate music program. He is also a very personable teacher, able to be asked a multitude of questions, along with his charismatic way of instructing. I have truly benefitted from the hard work Brent has put into helping me excel as a musician. He truly is able to be on a one to one level making me feel at ease with any challenge that I approach him with; in addition to being able to instruct me in more than one way whether it be visually or by ear of playing, making him highly versatile.”
~Alyssa Kennedy, former student, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Mansfield University
"In my experiences with Brent, I have found him to be an extremely innovative and dedicated educator. He incorporates a casual method of instruction along with the solid fundamental aspects of teaching required to succeed. I have seen myself begin to grow as a trumpet player through his stressing of practice discipline and devotion. He introduces many essential principles of playing techniques, styles, tones, and an overall sense of musicianship required to produce such an art. One of the most important things he has taught me is to build a sense of confidence as a player. Without believing in yourself and knowing your potential, there is so much left out of the end result."
~Kane Fuhrman, Shenandoah Conservatory, South Western High School, Pennsylvania All State Band Member
“We were extremely fortunate to have had Brent as our daughter's first trumpet teacher when she started playing at age 11. He was absolutely the perfect mix of patience, encouragement, firmness and fun (emphasis on fun!). We knew how critical the first exposure to playing an instrument was for a child and how self conscious our daughter was about playing by herself. He taught her the basics of technique and reinforced the basics at each lesson as well as introduced more advanced aspects of playing. Thanks to Brent, she was far beyond her peers in middle school band yet he kept her challenged each week. He let her experience success at the first lesson and she steadily improved each month. Brent clearly remembered what it was like to be a beginner and set the right pace of learning for a beginner so she didn't feel overwhelmed. Brent is an accomplished, professional musician - who possesses that rare talent also to be a fabulous teacher!”
~Donna & Tony Clare
