The Brass Division
Maurice André began in a coal mining town. Dennis Brain in wartime London. Every legend started somewhere ordinary—then made an extraordinary decision.
By the Numbers
"The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible."
— Handel, Messiah (1741)
The Instrument That Commands Attention
For 3,500 years, brass instruments have announced kings, led armies into battle, and silenced concert halls with a single, perfect note.
From the Roman cornu to today's French horn, brass projects power like nothing else. Monteverdi's fanfares. Brahms's horn calls. Armstrong's jazz revolution. André's Baroque transcendence.
Every era is defined by brass players who pushed further than anyone thought possible. Will the next legend be you?
Choose Your Voice
Instruments We Teach
From the brilliant trumpet to the sonorous tuba—world-class instruction across the entire brass family.
High Brass
What We Offer
Your Path to Mastery
Flexible lesson formats designed around your goals, schedule, and learning style.
Core Experience
Private Lessons
One-on-one instruction with world-class faculty. Personalized curriculum tailored to your goals.
- 60-minute sessions
- Flexible scheduling across time zones
- Personalized practice plans
- Repertoire & technique guidance
Learn from Legends
Master Classes
Intensive sessions with guest artists. Performance, critique, and insight from leading brass players.
- Live performance & critique
- Q&A with guest artists
- Recording available after
Community Learning
Studio Classes
Weekly group sessions with fellow brass students. Peer feedback, mock auditions, and collaborative growth.
- Weekly group sessions
- Peer feedback circles
- Mock auditions & recitals
The Pantheon
Giants Who Came Before
Every student stands on the shoulders of legends. These masters defined what brass could be.
Trumpet
Maurice André
1933–2012 · Alès, France
"A coal miner's son who made the trumpet sing with the voice of angels."
300+ recordings. Single-handedly revived the Baroque trumpet repertoire and proved a working-class kid could conquer the world's greatest stages.
Study with our trumpet facultyFrench Horn
Dennis Brain
1921–1957 · London, England
"In 36 years, he redefined what the horn could express."
Principal horn at 21. His Mozart recordings remain the benchmark 70 years later. Benjamin Britten wrote his Serenade specifically for Brain's otherworldly sound.
Study with our horn facultyTuba
Arnold Jacobs
1915–1998 · Philadelphia, USA
"The pedagogue who taught the world how to breathe."
44 years with Chicago Symphony. His "Song and Wind" philosophy transformed brass pedagogy worldwide. Trained virtually every major brass player of the late 20th century.
Study with our low brass facultyTrombone
Christian Lindberg
1958–Present · Sweden
"Proved the trombone could be a solo instrument on the world's greatest stages."
300+ world premieres. Commissioned more new trombone concertos than any musician in history. Still performing, still pushing boundaries.
Study with our trombone facultyEvery legend was once a student staring at an instrument, wondering if they had what it takes. They decided to find out.
3,500 Years of Sound
A Legacy in Bronze & Brass
1500 BC
The First Horns
Ancient Egyptians craft the first metal horns from bronze and silver. Tutankhamun's tomb contains two trumpets—still playable after 3,300 years.
→ The BBC broadcast their sound in 1939
1607
Monteverdi's Revolution
L'Orfeo premieres in Mantua with the first true orchestral brass writing. The trombone enters the opera pit.
→ Western music changed forever
1815
The Valve Is Born
Heinrich Stölzel patents the piston valve in Berlin. Brass instruments can now play every chromatic note.
→ The Romantic orchestra explodes with color
1923
Jazz Changes Everything
Louis Armstrong records with King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band. The trumpet becomes the voice of a new century.
→ Improvised, electrifying, free
Now
Your Chapter
The Global Conservatory connects aspiring brass players with world-class instruction across every time zone.
→ Geography is no longer destiny
The Craft
What You'll Master
Complete development across every dimension of brass artistry.
01
Embouchure & Tone
Build the physical foundation for a lifetime of playing.
→ Rich, resonant sound that fills any hall
02
Breath & Air
Master Arnold Jacobs's breathing philosophy.
→ Efficient, sustainable breath control
03
Range & Flexibility
Systematically expand your register while maintaining quality.
→ From pedal tones to the stratosphere
04
Repertoire & Style
Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary, Jazz.
→ Authentic interpretations across eras
05
Orchestral Excerpts
In-depth study of audition-winning excerpts.
→ Prepared for any professional audition
06
Performance Mind
Conquer stage fright with mental resilience training.
→ Confidence under pressure
While You're Deciding
- A student in Seoul just finished their lesson with a Berlin Philharmonic hornist
- A trumpet player in Lagos is preparing for their Royal Academy audition
- A 14-year-old in Buenos Aires is working on Mahler 5 with a Chicago Symphony player
- Someone in Mumbai just nailed the Haydn Concerto cadenza for the first time
- The next Maurice André is practicing right now
The only question is whether you'll join them.
Your Story Starts Here
Choose your instrument. Choose your teacher. Begin the work that transforms potential into mastery—and students into artists.
Browse Our Faculty