Educator Ashley Hall-Tighe
As an educator, Ashley combines her passion for whole-person development with a methodical approach to trumpet improvement. She was recently appointed as Adjunct Trumpet Faculty at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she teaches alongside, Associate Professor of Trumpet, Michael Mergen and former principal trumpet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Philip Collins. Ashley has been on the trumpet faculties of the Longy School of Music of Bard College, The University of North Carolina School of the Arts and St. Olaf College.
Educator
Ashley’s personal stories of growth make her one of the most sought-after guest clinicians and educators on the trumpet. Whether she is teaching about Respiratory Mechanics or sharing her own strategies for becoming a more efficient, strategic and growth-centered trumpeter, Ashley meets each student where they are and encourages a musical practice of curiosity.
Ashley has given masterclasses and clinics at hundreds of universities and Music conservatories around the world. She is a frequent clinician at the International Trumpet Guild Conference and the National Trumpet Competition and does several college residencies each year.
Ashley combines her academic interests with her trumpet playing, anesthesiologist husband, Nathan Tighe where they together explore the intersection between efficient brass playing and a scientifically based understanding of respiratory anatomy and physiology.
Understanding Breathing: The Science of Respiratory Mechanics
The culture around brass playing has long perpetuated the notion that good brass playing is an unnatural and effortful endeavor, yet, there is much admiration for players who execute complex passages effortlessly. This talk, given at the International Women’s Brass Conference in 2022, is the basis for an approach to brass pedagogy that is grounded in the language of science. Alongside my husband, physician-trumpeter Nathaniel Tighe, we share some of the latest thoughts on respiratory physiology and musical acoustics and discuss the fundamental anatomy and physiology of breathing to provide a framework for a common scientific language of understanding and teaching efficient brass playing.
“Building Smarter Practice Habits for Consistency and Growth”
In the past, my approach to trumpet practice would not have been described as strategic. It's taken me years to develop a methodical system for improvement on the trumpet that yields consistent growth and repeatable results. In this masterclass given at the 2019 National Trumpet Competition, I break down my approach to practice planning and share some of the trumpet specific tools that have helped me to develop an upper register and continue growing and improving my skills over the years.
“Respiratory Mechanics for Trumpeters”
This was a recorded presentation for the 2021 International Trumpet Guild Virtual Conference that combines the latest research from musical acoustics, fundamental anatomy and the physiology of breathing. In this talk, my husband, trumpeter and anesthesiologist Nathan Tighe, and I provide a practical and science-based understanding of the intersection between respiratory mechanics and efficient trumpet playing.
