Dr. Chris Keach: Practice Like a Singer, Not a Trumpeter. Ep. 165

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpet educator, performer and composer Dr. Christopher Keach, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass.

This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:

"Dr. Chris Keach Trumpet Interview"

And, find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here

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How do you apply vocal warmup and training techniques to trumpet playing?

And what if it unlocks an entire new approach to practice and pedagogy?

Dr. Chris Keach traces his path from a young Long Island trumpet student to college professor at the Crane School of Music, after studying at Crane and McGill University in Montreal, and reflects on how teaching, performing, and research have all shaped his journey. The vocal training techniques he learned along the way, such as jaw and tongue mobility, vowel concepts and nasal feedback, have helped him open up his sound and stamina, and give him further tools to help his students.

We chat about shifting from lead jazz trumpet to classical solo work, choosing graduate studies, landing a college teaching job before finishing his doctorate, and why creating new music matters for the trumpet community.

Chris began commissioning more original music after realizing how much trumpet repertoire repeats the same works, and wanting to expand the literature with new and diverse voices. His current and upcoming projects include trumpet and electronics, flugelhorn solo repertoire, chamber pieces, and a benefit concert concept tied to the local humane society.

And, Chris will of course play a central role in the the inaugural Brass Summit at the Crane School in September, a weekend full of performances, exhibitors, panels, workshops, masterclasses and more. The world-renowned Seraph Brass will be present and perform a featured recital. A great event that's making world-class performance and instruction more accessible!

When choosing schools for a doctorate: "For me personally, the teacher is the number one choice that I would make. If I can study with someone who inspires me to be there, inspires me to be better, helps me to grow into the musician I want to be, then everything else can fall into place." - Chris Keach

About Christopher Keach:

Dr. Christopher Keach, a New York-based professional musician, educator, and researcher, is the Lecturer of Trumpet at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. He is a multi-talented performer with experience in classical, jazz, and Afro-Cuban music. Keach has performed with the Syracuse Orchestra, Segal Centre Theatre organization, the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra, the Orchestra of Northern New York, the Northern Symphonic Winds, and in the New Works Recital at the 2023 International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Conference.

 

He has worked with artists such as Ashley Hall-Tighe, Tony Glausi, Ed Carroll, Sergei Nakariakov, Karen Donnelly, James Thompson, Septura Brass Septet, Fabio Brum, Caleb Hudson, Jim Wilt, Nikki LaBonte, and Anthony Plog. He currently performs as the Co-Principal of the Orchestra of Northern New York, section leader of the Northern Symphonic Winds, and as a member of the Potsdam Brass Quintet. 

 

Keach is as versatile an educator as he is a performer. He has experience teaching a variety of age groups and settings, including K-5 general music, as well as 9-12th grade jazz band and symphonic band. From the summer of 2022 till 2026, Keach taught at the Bay Shore High School Summer Music Program where he taught lessons to beginning and high school instrumentalists. Additionally, in his private studio he teaches both jazz and classical trumpet lessons to students of all ages. 

 

Along with his teaching and performance experience, Keach has a great interest in research, specifically in the fields of performance science and electronic music. 

 

Keach completed his DMus and MMus degrees in trumpet performance at McGill University, Schulich School of Music, in the studio of Professor Richard Stoelzel. Keach also holds his B.M. in Trumpet Performance and B.M.E. from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where he studied with Dr. John R. Ellis. 

 

Episode Links:

• 2026 SUNY Crane School of Music Brass Summit, with Seraph Brass
• Website: https://christopherkeach.com
• Instagram: @chris_keach_music
• Instagram: @CraneTrumpetStudio
• Mary Elizabeth Bowden interview, The Other Side of the Bell

Bob Reeves Brass Events and Appearances:

• Joy Brass, September 17-24, Tokyo Japan
  http://joybrass.com
  email to sign up: [e-mail]
• Virtuosity Music, October 9-10, Boston, MA
  Signup link
• NCMEA Conference, November 8-9, Winston-Salem, NC
• Greg Black Mouthpieces, November 10, Mount Holly, NC

Podcast Credits:

• “A Room with a View“ - composed and performed by Howie Shear
• Podcast Host - John Snell
• Photo Credits - Julia Kia Photography
• Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg