High Brass Studio

Welcome to the SDSU High Brass Studio!

Whether you are interested in embarking on a career in music or if you are looking for an outlet to continue performing on the trumpet or horn while you pursue other degree options, the SDSU High Brass Studio has a place for you.

Students in the high brass studio take one-on-one instruction with Dr. David Reynolds. In addition, a Friday afternoon master class gives students a chance to hang out with other high brass players, learn about great artists from around the globe and perform in a trumpet choir or horn ensemble.

SDSU owns a full complement of professional equipment to enhance the overall learning experience. This includes Yamaha piccolo and D/E-flat trumpets, Yamaha flugelhorns and Bach Stradivarius B-flat and C-trumpets. The University also owns both Conn and Holton professional horns. Herald trumpets are used during the SDSU’s Madrigal dinners announcing the arrival of each course.

We also bring some of the finest teachers and performers to SDSU! The following high brass musicians have presented master classes or concerts on SDSU’s campus. Some of these artists include: Doc Severinsen, the Canadian Brass, Charles Seipp, the Presidio Brass, the Western Brass Quintet, The United States Army Field Band, the United States Army Navy Band, the Airmen of Note, The Dukes of Dixieland, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Allen Vizzutti and Curt Christensen.

About Dr. Reynolds

David performs on Bach B-flat and C trumpets, both modified by M K Drawing and Bending, a Yamaha Custom D-E-flat trumpet, a Schilke P5-4 piccolo trumpet and the Yamaha 831 flugelhorn. In addition, David owns and performs on a significant number of working-condition historical brass instruments. 

As a trumpeter, David enjoys teaching, coaching and presenting programmatically inventive annual recitals. Recent recital themes have included “The Trumpet as Storyteller,” “The Art of the Transcription,” “The Trumpet in Mixed Media,” “A Trumpet in our Time: Music by Living Composers” and “Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna.” He has performed both as a soloist and as a section member with numerous professional, semi-professional and amateur groups.

He has presented original research at several state, regional and national conferences on wind band history and has contributed articles and reviews to Montana: The Magazine of Western History, the American Bandmasters Association’s Journal of Band Research, the International Trumpet Guild Journal, the South Dakota Musician and the Montana Cadenza. Prior to joining the faculty at SDSU in 2005, he served on faculties in Montana and Colorado and also served as a trumpeter with the United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own) in Washington, D.C.

High Brass Students at SDSU may participate and perform in the following ensembles:

• Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band
• SDSU Symphonic and Concert Bands
• Jazz Bands and Jazz Combos
• SDSU Pep Band
• SDSU Civic Orchestra

Contact Information (including audition and scholarships)