People to Watch: Erika Schafer

Women trumpet players are rare. But Erika Schafer’s blend of classical and jazz talent may be even more unusual.

A former soloist for the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C., Dr. Schafer flew South this fall to become the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s assistant director of bands.

She leads the all-male jazz band, teaches trumpet lessons, directs the trumpet ensemble and helps direct the marching, concert and pep bands.

Her career was something of an accident. In fifth grade, she switched from percussion to trumpet.

“I thought it was the easiest instrument because it only has three buttons,” she said.

Her mission to bring diversity in people, musical styles and experiences still rings true.

“Increasing the diversity in my jazz band is important to me, so I hope to inspire more students to become interested in jazz,” Dr. Schafer said.

Quick Bits

Family: Single, no children

Age: 31

Hometown: Rockaway, N.J.

Education: Masters of Music, Yale University, Doctorate of Musical Arts, The Catholic University of America

Favorite Classical Trumpet Music: Handel’s Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Favorite Jazz Trumpet Player: Miles Davis.

Classical Group She’d Most Like To Perform With: New York Philharmonic

Q&A

Q: What’s the best thing about your new job?

A: I love that I’m busy and that I’m making a difference.

Q: What’s the most surprising thing about teaching?

A: How busy I am!

Q: What’s your best advice for trumpet students?

A: Be patient with yourself and be kind to yourself. Try to resist the temptation to get mad and frustrated and stressed out. Relax, think positively and give yourself time to improve.

Q: What’s the oddest thing about playing the trumpet most people don’t know?

A: It takes an incredible amount of strength. Unlike all other instruments, we can’t play much longer than 3 minutes without a rest, even if it’s just one second. Other instruments can play much longer. The endurance required is one of the things that makes recitals difficult for us.

Q: How do you train for that?

A: You treat it much like a sport. Much like an athlete, you assess your current skill level, then try to extend it. I encourage my students to find out how long they can play without needing a rest, do that every day for a week, then the next week try to go for one more line or 8 more measures, and stick with that. Being patient is important.

Q: Why do you believe jazz training is so important for students?

A: It’s an American musical art form, it was largely borne in America, and it’s largely America’s music. And it’s a style that exists, so there’s no reason not to consider it to be as important as classical music.