THE SILVA TEACHING METHOD

Who do you want to be?

What are your goals?

As a trumpet player, picture it: the sound you want, the music you want to play, the player people recognize the moment you start. That picture is where Mario begins. His IMAGE approach turns it into a clear path, with the mindset, awareness and groundwork to get you there, and the self-evaluation to keep you growing long after the lesson ends.

For working professionals, trumpet teachers and serious players of every style.

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Mario Silva seated, smiling, holding his trumpet

On a Grammy winner

Trumpet on the Best Reggae Album

20+ years on the road

Touring, recording and producing

College faculty

Las Positas College

Teaches the teachers

Pros and teachers study here

THE PHILOSOPHY

IMAGE

At the heart of Mario’s teaching is one belief: your playing reflects the image you hold of yourself. IMAGE turns that belief into a path, from who you are today to the player you want to become.

Identity

Who you are as a player, and who you're becoming. Your sound is an expression of that, so this is where the work begins.

Mindset

How you think about practice, mistakes and progress. Rewire that, and the habits begin to follow.

Awareness

Learning to truly hear and feel what's happening in your playing. It's the skill that makes teaching yourself possible.

Groundwork

It doesn't matter what style you play, from classical and jazz to Latin, commercial and lead. It all starts with building solid fundamentals and addressing your weaknesses.

Evaluation

Like a doctor, Mario examines your playing, finds the root cause of each weakness and prescribes routines to fix it. Over time, you learn to evaluate yourself.

The goal is simple: to become your own teacher.

Change the player, and the playing follows.

When identity, mindset and fundamentals line up, the results players chase most stop being a struggle.

Range

Higher notes without forcing

Endurance

Strong through the last set

Tone

The same sound in every register

Consistency

Good days become every day

Chuck Mackinnon, recording artist and educator

What players say

“If you are willing to do the work, this could be the system for you. Mario can quickly assess and tailor a program of rapid development for any student. I believe Mario Silva has risen to the top ranks of trumpet pedagogy in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.”

“As an adult with several years of experience, I understood that I didn't ‘know everything.’ I gained more power, expanded my range, improved my dexterity, and significantly enhanced my jazz vocabulary.”

Tim Curry, adult student

“Nearly a decade later from when I had my first lesson with Mario, I am now a student at Berklee College of Music on a full tuition scholarship. I could not have achieved this without his guidance and knowledge of trumpet pedagogy.”

Alyss Armstrong, Berklee College of Music

“Mario helped shape me into a strong lead player, which culminated in my senior year, when I was accepted as lead trumpet in the 2024 Jazz Band of America.”

Colin Surridge, lead trumpet, 2024 Jazz Band of America

“With online lessons, you get the same as normal lessons and there is no travel. His approach is very well thought out and I know it works because I've had amazing results.”

Ryan Kennedy, student

“Since I began studying with Mario, I have been seeing significant progress and tangible results. I was awarded a scholarship at the 2020 Campana Jazz Festival. I was also selected into the 2020 California All State Junior High Jazz Band.”

Chloe Xu, student

“The lessons are really helpful. Mario helps me be organized and it's always a great experience. I recommend it.”

Alex Gallegos, student