Student Testimonials

“In the relatively short amount of time I’ve been Josh’s student, I’ve learned more about being a trumpet player than I ever thought I could learn. This statement doesn’t simply apply to technique, style, practice regimen, and playing ability: it also applies so much to attitude when approaching music. Of course Josh cares about making sure I have good tone quality, tuning, and articulations, but he really teaches me about how to make music fun. One thing that really sticks out to me is his focus on musicality. My favorite thing is when he talks about a certain piece in an “ABA”-ish style being like a conversation between 2 characters that you have to bring to life in the way you play the piece. Stuff like that is why I enjoy playing trumpet and learning new things from Josh because everything doesn’t always have to be about technique: it can always be about showcasing the fun things surrounding musical expression. As he’s told me in the past, style and technique are really showcased the best when you add emotion to the music, and he’s done an amazing job of helping me to achieve that.”

-Colleen Hutchinson, Dubiln Coffman High School

“Over the past four years, Mr. Decker has given me great tips on becoming a better trumpet player. My playing ability and musical knowledge has increased drastically since I started taking lessons with him. When tasked with challenging music/parts to learn, he was always willing to spend some time with me to knock out the kinks in the part. Mr. Decker also was a big help to me in making The Ohio State University Marching Band, and I will continue to reach out to him for my trumpet playing lessons.”

-Max Hathaway, OSU Marching Band

“Josh Decker is a great teacher and person. Not only was I able to get into the Columbus Symphony Cadet orchestra under his classical guidance, but I made Columbus Youth Jazz and other programs through his jazz guidance as well. I really solidified my playing through the exercises, excerpts, and solos he gave me and walked me through, and through doing these exercises and through playing various etudes he wrote for his students I was able to really start to enjoy playing trumpet. I have had many bad habits over the course of my playing and I have always been able to shoot him a question or concern whenever needed. For instance, excessive mouthpiece pressure has always been one of my struggles, and I was able to ask Josh about it and get various solutions through different perspectives so I could really further my playing and fix my short comings. The openness in his lessons also has always been great, whatever I need to work on and no matter what the genre or style, he has always helped me. I have always left after having lessons with him inspired and knowing exactly what I should work on.”

-Joseph Rivero, Douglass Anderson School of the Arts

“I personally have struggled when it comes to playing multiple styles as I tend to stick to one way of playing. During my lessons with Mr. Decker I was able to learn better techniques for how I can play the pieces in ways that are different from my usual style. Additionally the way he explained concepts on how to have more expression when playing, such as with dynamics and specific style moments, has greatly helped me in terms of jazz band. The way he explained concepts of different styles, like blues, also helped me a lot in jazz band where I played new style pieces and with my improvisation skills.”

-Shreshta Ramidi, Olentangy Liberty High School

“Mr. Decker has taught me a great many things. This includes double tonguing, breath support, improving my tone quality, and improving the style in different types of music. I use all of these skills in my daily playing. Mr. Decker is also great in helping me workout hard rhythms in various pieces. I have really enjoyed working with Mr. Decker because he always makes the lessons fun or interesting and is always trying to make me a better musician.”

-Finn O’Connor, Gahanna Lincoln High School