Mike Finkelstein (he/him/his) has played trumpet and cornet in dance bands, jazz combos, concert bands, and church functions for over 60 years in St. Louis, Pennsylvania, Cleveland, Connecticut, and Louisville, and Green Valley. He also plays fluegelhorn and piccolo trumpet.
Locally, he is lead trumpet in the Green Valley Stage Band, Big Band Sounds of Green Valley, as well as the former Memories Big Band. His group, Mike Finkelstein and Friends, began around 2011 and has played at a variety of events and locations in the area. These include Posada Java and La Joya on the campus of La Posada; Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers (SAV); Rancho Resort; CareMore; Silver Springs; Arroyo Gardens; The Peaks; and Valley Presbyterian Church.
You may have also seen him at Veterans and Memorial Day events or perhaps at a military funeral playing “Taps.”
We asked Mike six questions about his life as a music teacher:
How long have you been teaching for?
Off and on for about 15 years
What instruments do you teach?
Trumpet and cornet
What's your favorite snack between students?
Cookies
What do you like most about teaching private lessons?
The feeling of passing my joy of music to my students and enjoying seeing them excel at somebody that can be with them for a lifetime.
Did you take lessons growing up?
Yes I did
What's the best advice you've ever received?
Enjoy what you are doing, or move on to something that gives you and others joy.
Want to be included or know a music teacher you'd like us to highlight for our teacher feature? Send us an email!