1% Trumpet ProgramReviews of toot-your-own-horn.com

Being a comeback player it's important to have a program that gets you going in the right direction. For me after many years of not playing, unfortunately you don't just pick up the instrument and start from where you once were 20 years ago. A lot of things change. Motivation is also important, it's easy to give up. This program offers a wealth of information along with guided instruction so you continue your journey to reach your goals. Like most things you get out of it what you put in, and for those of us who are dedicated to improvement and enjoyment this program works.

I joined the 1% Trumpet Program in August 2024 with the expectation that it would help me improve my range, endurance, and overall technique as a freelance trumpeter performing weekly with a variety of ensembles. Having played the trumpet for more than forty years, and after retiring from a twenty-two-year career as a middle school and high school band director, I finally had the opportunity to devote greater focus to trumpet performance and more frequent gigging. However, as my playing increased significantly between 2022 and 2024, I began to realize that performing on the trumpet was becoming physically exhausting and, at times, painful. It became clear that I needed a more efficient and sustainable approach—one that emphasized proper tools and technique while avoiding excessive mouthpiece pressure, overblowing, and playing at unnecessarily high volumes over dance band rhythm sections. Additionally, despite my many years of experience, I had not yet achieved the level of proficiency I aspired to, particularly the skills required to comfortably and consistently perform commercial lead trumpet parts in big bands and dance bands. The 1% Trumpet Program appeared to be an ideal fit for my specific goals and needs. Several factors have contributed to making my experience exceptionally positive. The program offers an asynchronous learning environment that allows participants to progress at their own pace through a variety of modules, while also providing opportunities to schedule one-on-one sessions for individualized instruction. The coaching calls serve as an effective forum for guided practice with the instructor and fellow participants. The program clearly demonstrates what it means to practice efficiently and achieve measurable improvement in a shorter amount of time. Additionally, the instructor introduces new method books and explains multiple approaches to studying them, as well as how to integrate more traditional methods without becoming disengaged or stagnant. Participants also engage in discussions on how to evaluate and experiment with new equipment, including mouthpieces, trumpets, mutes, and CTS. Most importantly, the instructor and staff are able to closely observe my playing, identify areas in need of improvement, and provide targeted solutions to address my specific challenges as a trumpet player. This program demonstrates a strong commitment to flexibility by effectively meeting the needs of its clients within an encouraging and supportive online community. The content presented in the modules is highly informative and is continually updated in response to client feedback, as well as the instructor’s observations regarding improvements that would benefit the group as a whole. The 1% Trumpet Program / Toot Your Own Horn has fundamentally transformed my mindset and approach to trumpet performance, and it has also had a significant impact on how I teach my own students. -DMAS

I’ve been a member of the 1% Trumpet community for the past two years, and it has truly been transformative. This program completely changed how I understand effective practice—helping me make consistent, compounding improvements in far less time than I ever thought possible. The instructor is phenomenal and genuinely invested in your growth. He has an exceptional ability to help you identify specific roadblocks and then map out the most efficient, personalized path forward. There’s no guesswork—just clear direction and purpose behind every practice session. What really sets this program apart is the community. You’re not practicing in isolation. Through the Skool platform, you connect with other trumpeters at different stages of their journey, share struggles, give constructive peer feedback, and tackle challenges together. That support system alone is invaluable. As a member, you also get ongoing access to a huge library of resources, recorded coaching calls, and structured modules that you can revisit anytime. Everything is laid out in a way that builds confidence and momentum. Because of this program, I finally feel equipped to reach my trumpet goals—1% at a time. I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone serious about improving their playing.

The Road to Recovery — and So Much More My Experience with the 1% Trumpet Program About a year and four months ago, I virtually lost my ability to play the trumpet. When I found Jesse, I was at a point of real struggle—honestly, a point of weakness. I was facing the possibility of quitting something I had done for decades. I was still an active band member, and the thought of walking away from the trumpet was terrifying. So I reached out to Jesse. I explained what had happened, where I was, and what I hoped might still be possible. For context: when many of us start playing in middle school or high school (Jr school in my case), there are a lot of things that either aren’t taught—or aren’t taught clearly. Over the years, even with lessons, some teachers struggle to fully explain the what, the why, and the how in a way that sets you up for long-term success and longevity on the instrument. Long story long—I’ve dealt with recurring fever blisters since marching band and my early college years. About a year and four months ago, I got a particularly severe one. I had always played through them, and at that moment, that turned out to be the worst thing I could have done. The result was devastating. I went from being someone who could reasonably command the trumpet—playing solos, functioning confidently—to someone who suddenly played like a kindergartner. It was shocking. This was an instrument I had lived with for decades, and suddenly, I could barely make it work. I’m not a virtuoso, never claimed to be—but I could play. After that injury, I absolutely could not. I tried for months to fix things on my own. Eventually, I realized I had two choices: get real help, or be done. That’s when I committed to working with Jesse. We talked. I had an intro lesson. He listened. He was genuine. He also shared that he had experienced his own injuries and setbacks—and had rebuilt himself from them. That mattered. He took me on personally, and we went to work. Here I am almost a year later—and I can play again. I’m not exactly where I was yet, but I am so much better than I was. I’m close to regaining real command of the instrument, and more importantly, I finally understand why things work—or don’t work. What separates Jesse and the 1% Trumpet Program from everything else I’ve tried is this: he understands the trumpet deeply—its physics, its mechanics, and how the body actually interacts with it—and he knows how to translate that knowledge into clear, actionable coaching. Over the years, I tried researching, gathering tips, listening to different opinions. So many players can’t explain what they’re doing in a way you can actually apply. Jesse can. He explains things in ways that move the needle—plain and simple. The progress I’ve made in one year has been significant. I’ve uncovered so many things I had been doing wrong for so many years—without even realizing it. I’m coming up on my one-year mark, and I’m re-upping without hesitation. I don’t plan on stopping. I believe another year will not only get me back to where I was, but put me in a place where I can survive, play healthier, and continue moving forward with confidence. This program isn’t just about recovery. It’s about understanding the trumpet in a way I never did before—and finally building something that will last.

Jesse is a FANTASTIC teacher. He goes above and beyond for you, both personally and on the coaching calls. In terms of my playing, I went from not being able to articulate on the horn, not being able to make it through gigs without my face falling off, and G on top of the staff being a struggle most days… To clean articulation across registers, making it strongly through 4-hour gigs, gigging 3 nights in a row no problem, high Bb being in my every day range, and knowing how to continue developing even while being a working trumpet player! I can’t give Jesse and his program enough praise. Definitely worth every penny and more!!

I have played the trumpet for many decades. I have studied with some phenomenal teachers, such as Vince Cichowiz, Arnold Jacobs, Alan Dean and others. I have a MM in Trumpet Performance and completed all of my coursework for a DMA in Performance and Pedagogy. I have played professionally and have 5 years of full-time college teaching. As an older player, I was looking for a trumpet class that would keep me motivated to practice and constantly improve. I tried a different class first and felt it was a total waste of time and money. Then I found Jesse’s class. I am so impressed with Jesse’s knowledge and work ethic. He really cares about everyone in the program and is very generous with his time and efforts. I am very impressed with his knowledge, his commitment to the program, and his incredible work ethic. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn and become a better player. Or if you want to maintain where you are at. Or if you just want play for fun. Or if you are a comeback player. You get the idea! Sign up and learn and grow and become a better player! You can’t go wrong with this program!!

I joined the 1% Trumpet Program about two years ago as an experienced lifelong player who had returned to serious practice after balancing career and family. The biggest benefit for me has been developing a much more intentional and structured approach to practice; before this, my work at the horn was often effective but fairly random in what I chose to focus on. Jessie does an excellent job of organizing a wide range of concepts - technique, sound, efficiency, endurance, mindset, and practice structure - into a coherent system. The depth of content hosted on the Skool platform is impressive, and the regular live calls, discussions, and periodic challenges create meaningful opportunities to apply ideas, submit recordings, and get thoughtful feedback. Jessie is very accessible, and the other coaches are also available for private sessions when you want to go deeper. While the program doesn’t have an in-person component, the level of structure, interaction, and ongoing support more than makes up for it. Overall, it’s been a very positive and valuable experience for my playing.

I just started playing the Trumpet 2 weeks before starting with the 1% Trumpet Program. It has made a huge difference already; not only in my playing but in my approach to the trumpet. This is giving me all the background that I need to rapidly advance. There are a variety of resources [Videos, live classes (group and individual), detailed written documents) - so matching your learning style is not a problem. The instructors are very knowledgeable and have a plethora of professional knowledge and playing experience. Plus, the community of students really is engaged and supportive of each other! Such a positive place to learn and have fun.