Fred's Favorites

Fred Mills (1935-2009) was a music professor at the University of Georgia from 1996 to 2009, and a 1992 Grammy Awards nominee. He made more than 40 recordings as a trumpeter with the Canadian Brass from 1972 to 1996.


Fred played principal trumpet with both the American Symphony and Houston Symphony orchestras under Leopold Stokowski; the New York City Opera Orchestra; the New York City Ballet; American Ballet Theater; the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada; the Casals Festival Orchestra in Puerto Rico; and others.


He attended the Juilliard School of Music and held honorary doctorates from the New England Conservatory in Boston and Hartwick College.


The Canadian Brass still performs hundreds of Fred’s arrangements, many of which are now considered standard brass quintet repertoire, including Bizet’s Carmen, Pachelbel’s Canon, and Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor.


In Fred’s Favorites, a volume compiled by Louise Baranger, eight favorite drills that Fred had developed over the years are presented.  Unique and progressive, these are refreshing takes on the scales and arpeggios that we all have to hone all the time. It is far beyond just another book of drills. Check the free sample for an excellent summary.


Forewords are written by Philip Smith,  Prokasy Professor of Trumpet, Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia and former Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic and Brandon Craswell, Associate Professor of Trumpet also at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, University of Georgia.