That's Not Spit, It's Condensation!

Praised as “brilliant…impeccable” by the New York Times and a musician  of “effortless understated virtuosity” by The Chicago Tribune, Christopher Martin is Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic. Prior to this, he was Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for eleven seasons. Mr. Martin has enjoyed a distinctive career of more than twenty years as solo trumpet of some of America’s finest orchestras.   As a soloist, Christopher Martin is in great demand in New York and around the world and has made several world premieres. Martin’s passion for new music has seen numerous works brought to life in both the orchestral and wind band repertoire. Christopher Rouse’s Heimdall’s Trumpet, John Mackey’s Antique Violences, and Julie Giroux’s Taboo were composed for Mr. Martin.   Christopher Martin’s discography includes a solo trumpet performance in  John Williams’s score to Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (2012). 2019 saw the release of Antique Violences with Jerry Junkin conducting the Dallas Winds.   Mr. Martin serves on the faculty of The Juilliard School. Christopher Martin is a Yamaha Performing Artist. 
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In this episode, I'm sitting down with composer and trumpeter Kevin McKee to talk about his journey from trumpet performance to composition, how his playing background shapes his writing, and what makes his music so idiomatic and enjoyable to play. We dig deep into the inspiration and interpretive details behind Centennial Horizon, Kevin's evocative three-movement work for trumpet and piano inspired by Colorado. Kevin also shares details about his book Kevin McKee's Musical Jungle Gym for Trumpet, a gamified fundamentals method designed to keep students engaged through style studies, card-based practice routines, and QR-linked recordings.

We covered:
-How Kevin got started composing and what kept him going
-Writing music you actually enjoy vs. chasing trends
-The personal story behind Centennial Horizon (movement by movement)
-Performance tips straight from the composer
-The Musical Jungle Gym: who it's for and how to use it
-Blocked buzzing as a tool for embouchure recovery
-Kevin's advice for aspiring composers

Find Kevin's music and get in touch at kevinmckmusic.com
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Most musicians are practicing wrong—not because they're lazy or untalented, but because traditional practice methods don't align with how the brain actually learns.
Dr. Molly Gebrian is a violist, neuroscientist, and author of Learn Faster, Perform Better. She teaches at New England Conservatory and has spent years translating brain science into practical strategies for musicians.
In this conversation, we dig into:
Why taking MORE breaks leads to FASTER progress
How mental practice can solve problems physical practice can't
The truth about talent (spoiler: it's irrelevant)
Why mistakes are essential for learning
The "old way, new way" technique that breaks bad habits in minutes
How to practice in 30-minute segments for maximum efficiency
What actually causes performance anxiety (and how to manage it)
If you've ever felt frustrated in the practice room, stuck on a plateau, or wondered why hours of practice aren't translating to results—this episode will change how you think about practice forever.
Molly's Website: www.mollygebrian.com
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Confidence wasn’t missing — it was misunderstood.
In this episode, Ryan sits down with trumpet player and educator Stephen Wadsack to unpack how deeply held beliefs about confidence can quietly shape — and limit — the way we practice, perform, and grow as musicians.
What starts as a conversation about auditions and orchestral playing turns into something much deeper: how confusing confidence with arrogance, or treating it as a personality trait instead of a byproduct of clarity, can hold even highly skilled players back. Together, they explore how humility, organization, identity, and understanding your fundamentals can actually create the confidence most musicians are searching for.
If you’ve ever felt confident in some settings but not others, struggled with comparison, or wondered why hard work doesn’t always translate into freedom on stage, this conversation will resonate.
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Many trumpet players experience frustration, inconsistency, or uncertainty in their practice — and assume that’s just normal.
In this video, I break down 3 trumpet practice habits that are common, but don’t have to stay that way.

These habits often feel normal because they’re widespread, especially when players work hard without a clear system, feedback loop, or defined outcome. The goal here isn’t to criticize how you practice — it’s to help you understand why these experiences happen and what can change them.

In this video, you’ll learn:

Why certain frustrating practice experiences are so common
How these habits affect progress, confidence, and consistency
What principles I use to create clearer, more productive practice
How to rethink practice without invalidating your past experience
This video is for serious trumpet players who want to practice with more clarity, intention, and confidence — whether you’re a student, amateur, or professional.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re working hard but not seeing the results you expect, this will help you understand what’s actually going on.
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