Our Brass Educators Idaho Music Academy

The trumpet is best known as a jazz or big band instrument and characterized by it’s strong, brass sound and quick note changes. However, the trumpet can also make a delicate, soulful sound as well.

Cord Breuer

Mr. Breuer is in his final semester as a Graduate Assistant for Dr. Joe Tornello with the Boise State University Blue Thunder Marching Band. He holds a Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Boise State University and is expected to complete a Masters of Music in Music Education from Boise State University in May of this year. He is currently studying trumpet with Dr. Alex Noppe, and previously with Marcellus B. Brown, Justin Stamps and Keith Weigandt. Prior to pursuing his Masters at Boise State University. From the Summer of 2013 to the Spring of 2015, Cord taught at Middleton High School in Middleton, Idaho as the Director of Bands, Orchestra, and Guitar.

As a director, he increased his student-musician involvement by 80% in the marching band (50 members to 92 members), by 126% in Jazz ensembles (15 members to 34 members) resulting in the addition of a second Jazz ensemble, and an increase of over 200% in percussion ensemble (8 members to 24 members) . His students performed in festivals and were selected for All-Northwest Concert Band, All-Northwest Jazz Band, All-State Honor Band, Macy’s All-American Marching Band, Boise State University All-Star honor band, and Boise State University honor marching bands. During the Summer, he is a staff member at the Boise State Summer Chamber Music Camp where he teaches trumpet techniques and brass ensembles. As a performer, Mr. Breuer was the 2012 featured soloist for the Las Vegas Maaco Bowl with the Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band. Mr. Breuer’s private students have placed in the All-Northwest and All-State Bands, State-Solo competitions and many have continued on to pursue music after high school.

John Russell Seal

John Russell is a music education major at Boise State. He has helped teach music theory classes at Mountain View High School as well as tutoring to victory middle school baritone students. He also has 9 years of experience with different brass instruments focusing mainly on Euphonium (Baritone), Bass Trombone, and Tenor Trombone.

Groups John Russell has performed with these instruments include; Idaho All State band of 2018 (Euphonium), Blue Thunder Honor Marching Band 2017 (Trombone), Blue Thunder Marching Band in 2018 (Marching Baritone), Mountain View Varsity Jazz Band (Trombone, Bass Trombone), Mountain View Honor and Alumni Symphonic group (Trombone), Mountain View Symphonic band in Seattle (Trombone and Euphonium), and he is also the creator and trombone player for the Mountain View ‘Kick Brass’ brass band. John Russell has experience playing most brass instruments.

He is following his dream of teaching music to other generations and encouraging anyone and everyone to take up music as a part of their lives and will teach anybody wanting to begin that journey through Trombone, Euphonium, or Baritone. John Russell will be accepting new students of all ages and abilities.