Anthony Plog on Music

Abbie Conant is Professor of Trombone at the Musik Hochschule in Trossingen, Germany. She was principal trombone of the Royal Opera of Turin for a year, then principal trombone of the Munich Philharmonic for 13 years. Her fight against gender discrimination in Munich has been featured in Blink, the bestselling book by Malcolm Gladwell, and our conversation covers that period in detail. In addition, Abbie is active with her husband William in producing a new genre of works for musical theater featuring Abbie as trombonist and singer.

Abbie Conant is Professor of Trombone at the Musik Hochschule in Trossingen, Germany. She was principal trombone of the Royal Opera of Turin for a year, then principal trombone of the Munich Philharmonic for 13 years. Her fight against gender discrimination in Munich has been featured in Blink, the bestselling book by Malcolm Gladwell, and our conversation covers that period in detail. In addition, Abbie is active with her husband William in producing a new genre of works for musical theater featuring Abbie as trombonist and singer.

In the Bonus Room, Michael explores teaching, learning, and the influence of Tom Stevens. He describes how, when Michael was a young student of mine, I told him in a lesson, “Mike, it’s a trumpet, You blow on it, you don’t suck on it.”

In the Bonus Room, Michael explores teaching, learning, and the influence of Tom Stevens. He describes how, when Michael was a young student of mine, I told him in a lesson, “Mike, it’s a trumpet, You blow on it, you don’t suck on it.”

In Part 2, Michael discusses trumpet lineage, his friend and mentor David Zauder, and his all-time favorite performance with the Cleveland Orchestra.

In Part 2, Michael discusses trumpet lineage, his friend and mentor David Zauder, and his all-time favorite performance with the Cleveland Orchestra.

Michael Sachs is the iconic principal trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra. But he is much more than that. Enjoy this far-ranging conversation, as Michael talks about his experiences playing in the Cleveland Orchestra, working with people such as John Williams, teaching brass students, and much more.

In Part 1, Michael talks in depth about auditioning with the Cleveland Orchestra, striving to be (in baseball terms) a five-tool guy, and premiering the John Williams Trumpet Concerto.

Michael Sachs is the iconic principal trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra. But he is much more than that. Enjoy this far-ranging conversation, as Michael talks about his experiences playing in the Cleveland Orchestra, working with people such as John Williams, teaching brass students, and much more.

In Part 1, Michael talks in depth about auditioning with the Cleveland Orchestra, striving to be (in baseball terms) a five-tool guy, and premiering the John Williams Trumpet Concerto.

Wiff talks about:

• The lessons he learned from his teachers
• The concept of a vocation versus a job
• Building a great studio
• A new approach to recruiting
• The keystone habit of group warm-ups
• The importance of improvisation

Wiff talks about:

• The lessons he learned from his teachers
• The concept of a vocation versus a job
• Building a great studio
• A new approach to recruiting
• The keystone habit of group warm-ups
• The importance of improvisation