For over 40 years, Phil Snedecor put his career together piece by piece and note by note. What evolved was a body of work he never thought possible when he was a student and was told he would have to work extra hard because he didn't have as much talent as the other kids. But—he realized he had something that many of his friends didn't: a burning desire and drive to make a living on the trumpet. This book will show you that if you want something badly enough, you can and will make it happen. Whether it's the trumpet or anything else you want, the goal of this book is to show you that no matter what cards you've been dealt in life, you can build your dream. "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." It's the hardest and best job you'll ever have.

If you want to make rain, you have to MAKE something happen! In music, sometimes it seems as if it's all been done before, and all that's left is for us to hop on someone else's rain. That works if you're on the audition trail, but while you're waiting for that big gig to come along, making rain can not only be very satisfying but can pay the rent and feed your soul. Waiting for the International Musician to come out every month to look at audition ads is a bleak existence if you're not out there playing, and if your dance card isn't full every week playing in other people's rain, you might as well make your own. Even if you're regularly participating in someone else's monsoon, a rainstorm or two of your own making might be just the thing you need to put your career on track.

For over 25 years Phil Snedecor had been a driving presence in the Baltimore, MD and Washington DC area. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Washington Symphonic Brass, the Contractor for the Opera/Show/Ballet Orchestra at Wolf Trap, and has written a series of brass etude books that are required repertoire at many colleges and conservatories. His arrangements and compositions have been performed throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. Phil’s innovative programming and arranging for the has led to several guest conductor appearances, including the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, the River City Brass Band (Pittsburgh) and the Breckenridge (CO) Brass.

Phil is a former member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and has been in demand as a guest principal with the Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra and the Louisville Orchestra, and as guest trumpeter for the Albany Symphony, Boston Pops and Boston Symphony. He has recorded under the RCA, CBS, Gothic, Koss, and Summit labels. Phil’s solo CDs, The Lyrical Trumpet I and II are also available on the Summit Label. Phil is currently Professor of Trumpet at The Hartt School of the University of Hartford.