Hi, I’m John Simpkins

I’m a trumpet teacher based in the Denver Metro Area. For the past 20 years, I’ve been teaching private lessons primarily at Flesher-Hinton Music in Wheat Ridge, as well as in other studio spaces in the Denver Metro area. I have run sectionals and been adjunct staff at various schools in the Denver Metro area and been a guest lecture for schools and brass camps throughout Colorado.  Not just helping thousands of young students get started, but helping trumpet players at all levels develop and grow as trumpet players. 

The purpose of this blog is simple: to help trumpet players overcome common hurdles. From getting started to building healthy practice habits and mastering performance techniques, learning the trumpet involves absorbing a lot of information. My hope is that this blog becomes a useful resource—a place to revisit when you need clarity or a quick tip to keep moving forward.

I’m passionate about sharing the joy of trumpet playing because this instrument has profoundly shaped my life.  I believe the trumpet has given me a path to a healthy, fulfilling life with strong connections and deep roots in my community. Daily practice has taught me discipline, creativity, and resilience—and the bonds formed through music are unlike any others in my life.

In this blog, I’ll start with the basics of getting started on trumpet, then dive into best practices, performance strategies, and even some unique techniques I’ve developed over 20 years of teaching and playing. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player looking for inspiration, I hope you’ll find something here that resonates.