Greg Smith

Greg is a professional musician with more than 40 years of experience performing and directing many different types of musical ensembles, including concert/marching bands, traditional and contemporary jazz bands, orchestras, rock and funk bands, salsa bands, and show/pit orchestras.

In his career, Greg has had the great pleasure of working as a professional trumpet/flugelhorn player with well-known artists including Linda Ronstadt, The Moody Blues, Ray Charles, Roberta Flack, James Ingram, Peabo Bryson, Jim Neighbors, Debbie Boone, Bobby Caldwell, and many more. He also has composed and had his music performed for studio recordings, film and television, concert performances, and live theater.

Greg attended and was an associate faculty member at Arizona State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music composition and a master’s in music theory.
Greg’s teaching experience includes instruction in music theory and composition, music humanities, and theater sound design at Arizona State University, Maricopa Community College, as well as the Scottsdale, Cave Creek, and San Francisco Unified School Districts. Additionally, he has taught private lessons in brass performance at several music studios in the Phoenix Metro area as well as the San Francisco Community Music Center.

In his teaching, Greg emphasizes solid fundamental skills that provide students with a foundation from which to grow. He believes that the teacher and student should set and strive for goals that are challenging, attainable and perhaps most importantly, rewarding. Greg believes the best way to meet those goals is to include an element of fun and exploration along the way. He believes music should be pleasurable and entertaining and adds that he always enjoys what he, himself, learns from working with students.