https://thechops-shop.com/about daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1586895837927-1RCTS2B0GFL3JOPW1JQ6/untitled+shoot-174.jpg About - Background The Chops Shop creates individualized lessons and strategies for musicians to perform more efficiently and execute music more confidently. Lessons are taught online and in-person through one-on-one and group clinic formats. The Chops Shop is the place to learn and discuss different approaches to playing your instrument as well as how those same concepts can be applied to improvisation, solo performances and having a healthier mental approach to playing music and the tasks of life. The Chops Shop was launched in 2020 by world renowned jazz trombonist Dion Tucker. During the summer of 2019 Dion developed embouchure dystonia, a type of dystonia that affects brass and woodwind players, which targets muscles in the mouth, face, jaw, and tongue. The involuntary, abnormal movements associated with embouchure dystonia are often very subtle and occur only when the musician is playing, buzzing into the mouthpiece, or forming an embouchure. Symptoms of embouchure dystonia may include air leaks at the corners of the mouth, sometimes accompanied by a tremor, and involuntary contractions of the muscles in the face. For more information about this condition click here. This condition left Dion unable to perform professionally for several months. During this down time, he began to study his disorder and immediately began a strict training and rehabilitation process. In essence, Dion had to re-learn how to play his instrument. The style of playing and methods he had applied for over 25 years proved to not be the most efficient way for him to play, and ultimately damaged his embouchure. Within six months, Dion was playing at a higher level than at any point in his career by applying the strategies that he learned and developed during his re-training process. The exercises and techniques that Dion was taught proved to be a much healthier playing style for him. A reoccurring question that he asked himself throughout this experience was, “why is no one talking about the consequences of misuse and overuse of the embouchure?” This inspired Dion to bring his personal experience with dystonia as well as his teaching and performance expertise together to create a platform for such topics to be explored and to share these techniques with other musicians to enhance their musical abilities. https://thechops-shop.com/home daily 1.0 2026-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/9b095402-a9ae-4d93-860a-b1d12be14683/DSC_2692.jpg Home - “Every musician is unique. My passion is helping them to discover the best version of themselves and to fall in love with the process.” — Dion Tucker, Founder & Music Coach https://thechops-shop.com/lessons daily 0.75 2022-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/cfee1e50-9db5-4adf-8a33-2c75b0fde317/DSC_2626.JPG Lessons Online Lessons The Chops Shop constructs individualized music lessons offering strategies and techniques to enhance the efficiency of your playing and improvisation. We will analyze what is required for each student to unlock the mental freedom needed to execute their goals and healthier brass playing. Lessons are offered online in 1-hour and 2-hour sessions via Zoom. Upon completion of each lesson, clients receive a lesson summary and personalized practice plan via email. In-person Lessons Same format as an online lesson with the advantage of a more in-depth observation. Upon completion of each lesson, clients receive a lesson summary and personalized practice plan via email. Pricing varies. To book your in-person lesson, please email us. Master Class Offered in online and in-person formats. For more information, pricing, and to book a Master Class, please email us. https://thechops-shop.com/gallery-1 daily 0.75 2020-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c5a514d65019f01a2cb2be5/1562691814956-CR2MG89QGH2SM8YJ14VZ/20140301_Trade-151_0124-copy.jpg Gallery 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c5a514d65019f01a2cb2be5/1579821891248-P6YZZ7V6MK9DFLGI6CGT/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Gallery 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c5a514d65019f01a2cb2be5/1579821965822-X674QI2FGQ8XR82BWDXN/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Gallery 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c5a514d65019f01a2cb2be5/1579821991556-5SYTT42ZTX5XIK9813IF/Aro+Ha_0393.jpg Gallery 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c5a514d65019f01a2cb2be5/1579821986762-RTQXZX96UQX6QIR5SF2W/Aro+Ha_0010.jpg Gallery 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c5a514d65019f01a2cb2be5/1579821991041-EXFLUT25KOQEDNBW4PKY/Aro+Ha_0380.jpg Gallery 1 https://thechops-shop.com/videos daily 0.75 2023-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1593496401712-36I2QGX9KDH39ZMXYLQA/The+Chops+Shop+-+Thumbnail%281%29.png Videos Introducing The Chops Shop https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1596506279904-J71FG9FF5XMZV04Z9JA0/IMG_4670.jpg Videos Jazz Improvisation - #MondayMood 08.03.20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1608774994835-FV76SJ8IFLBKNHIMGNIJ/Flugabone+Unboxing+FINAL.png Videos Unboxing My New Flugabone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1593496521985-U872LOZ58HXESM054WIN/The+Chops+Shop+-+Thumbnail-2.png Videos Focal Dystonia: One of the Best Things to Happen to Me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1597713154494-3145YUAZ4S62N518UQZ4/MondayMood+8.17.20.png Videos Jazz Improvisation - #MondayMood 08.17.20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1608775051732-8G9H5WVJ11OJ3BRP4EN4/Christmas+Time+Is+Here+Thumbnail.png Videos Breaking In My New Flugabone - “Christmas Time is Here” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1595534518139-DB8CVUQ3M7IM43LJJNTC/Black+Instruments+Illustration+Music+Youtube+Channel+Art+copy.png Videos A Little R&R in Your Brass Playing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1601939106080-4TD3IV7KXC8VJP3NP70E/BTC+-+Chris+Crenshaw+%282.2%29.png Videos The Black Trombone Chronicles | Ep. 1 - Chris Crenshaw https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/8ddb323b-a8f9-4f68-bd78-82fda88b17d5/Unboxing+Jazz+Trombone.png Videos Unboxing: Vintage Trombone Autographed by Famous Jazz Musicians https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1594909659349-V87HUS1Y7FNMES9P2IYP/Black+Instruments+Illustration+Music+Youtube+Channel+Art%281%29.png Videos To Buzz or Not to Buzz? 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Conquer It. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1604337457094-CYZ9E0N6LM3HWGBE93MX/BTC+-+Ep.+3+Jeffery+Miller.png Videos The Black Trombone Chronicles | Ep. 3 - Jeffery Miller https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1596078995401-LVTJ2QAZZVOJ0K25ZM7M/Black+Instruments+Illustration+Music+Youtube+Channel+Art.png Videos Articulation vs Tonguing: What’s the Difference? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1605486465275-D2VV6Y8AL3PKGXD727AH/BTC+Weston+Sprott+-+Ep.4.png Videos The Black Trombone Chronicles | Ep. 4 - Weston Sprott https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1596714763409-J9HOEJ4HTR76NB981DNX/Embouchure+Video+Thumbnail.png Videos Embouchure for Brass Players - How Important Is It, Really? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1606677915118-J3VQE22ZLOBCUSZPMFAA/BTC+-+Ep.+5+Delfeayo+Marsalis+Thumbnail.png Videos The Black Trombone Chronicles | Ep. 5 - 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Robin Eubanks  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1599099447719-ES2ZU58Q2H5RGMIAH2LL/Playing+Soft+Thumbnail.png Videos Whisper Tones - Why Playing Soft Can Be So Beneficial https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1612741451391-CQE2A95T1E3A7HH0YSWW/BTC+-+Martin+McCain.png Videos The Black Trombone Chronicles | Ep. 9 - Dr. Martin McCain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1600369828959-K3PCW2J37CVDUJ8VEUR8/Plunger+Mute+Thumbnail.png Videos Plunger Mute Techniques on the Trombone - Learn How to Use a Plunger as a Mute https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1613962071166-QL8SV2IIHKA46JCWTGGM/Black+Instruments+Illustration+Music+Youtube+Channel+Art%282%29.png Videos The Black Trombone Chronicles | Ep. 10 - Andre Hayward https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1600969312401-4VZGE6H45ZPCSG8LR9NQ/Endurance+Thumbnail.png Videos Endurance For Brass Players - 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The Benefits of Learning and Practicing Both https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1608231156400-XP0PCR4MA87UMAYTOZ46/Embouchure+Visualizer.png Videos Embouchure Visualizer - Looking Inside the Brass Player's Embouchure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1609898568451-OCDYI2FHXYHUFBEF8IGI/Slide+Technique+Thumbnail.png Videos Tips For Trombone Slide Technique -  How to Minimize Movement & Maximize Efficiency https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1611184806673-LMM65WJCTXEWMIG1Y8KB/Alternate+Slide+Positions.png Videos Alternate Slide Positions on Trombone - How and When To Apply Them https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1611794424565-61D83R0RTTBHV0SCSOHK/Chromatic+Scale+on+Trombone.png Videos The Chromatic Scale on the Trombone - The Most Important Scale To Master https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1612466742297-1WNZKD5UGA4TZOJVIUNU/Great+Sound+Thumbnail.png Videos How to Get a Great Sound on the Trombone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1613082630698-8V4YIWDQADOU02CYEI6P/Black+Instruments+Illustration+Music+Youtube+Channel+Art%282%29.png Videos Trombone Lip Turns - How and When To Use Them https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/1613605858529-92ZDOZWZL2XIRG4GWQRH/Black+Instruments+Illustration+Music+Youtube+Channel+Art%282%29.png Videos Breath Attacks on The Trombone - The Most Important Articulation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/f5b320dd-e1ea-4474-8fe5-b1057e8d1a0c/Double+Tonguing.png Videos Trombone Double Tonguing - How To Practice And Execute It https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/044f365f-9a42-42d1-ab6d-553acf345d83/Become+Your+Own+Best+Teacher.png Videos How To Become Your Own Best Teacher  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/3fefff00-ade2-4f29-8bc3-9388d75e934c/Hank+Cinq.png Videos Learning To Play Duke Ellington’s “Hank Cinq” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/385aef90-b377-4898-aa08-ad218c207e1e/20-minute+Practice+Guide.png Videos The Trombonist's Guide to a 20-Minute Practice Routine  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/67e873cb-4565-4a01-bc1a-d3d39480d438/Crescendos+and+Cutoffs.png Videos Crescendos and Cutoffs - Nuances to Enhance Your Phrasing  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/7088c75e-bfdb-43b3-af40-0cf3f4e63d94/Efficiency+vs+Effectiveness.png Videos Efficiency vs. Effectiveness - Which is More Important?  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/7d7b7fc1-4828-4395-9abd-96f121497a65/Black+Instruments+Illustration+Music+Youtube+Channel+Art%282%29.png Videos "The Circle of Fourths" on the Trombone  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/8a3207de-8589-424e-9f7c-14cd09ecb28f/Flutter+Tonguing.png Videos Flutter Tonguing & Growling on the Trombone  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/828492ee-33e6-4aa3-96fb-410b804754ad/Curtis+Fuller.png Videos Honoring the Great Curtis Fuller - His Profound Influence on My Trombone Playing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/da392eb2-9b67-4e01-bc18-5abacd05d6d2/First+Note.png Videos Trombone Warmup - The First Note of the Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/32453dcc-edfd-4999-8239-5e011b9227bd/Relieve+Tension.png Videos Relieve the Tension in Your Trombone Playing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/3543e844-e0ac-4368-92ce-3ce119b7e43c/Flugabone+Improv.png Videos Improvisation on the Flugabone - “I’ve Never Been In Love Before”  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/101e76a6-5928-4a84-b859-ba9fcb4d8051/Blue+Plunger.png Videos KR Indigo “Big Blue” Plunger Mute - Play Test and Review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/dd40fd4e-944f-4e4a-8e86-d13db3a7ad57/Black+Instruments+Illustration+Music+Youtube+Channel+Art%283%29.png Videos Testing My New Custom Trombone Mouthpiece - Play, Test and Review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/4944256d-8bc1-4322-ac46-68b3341fe557/Black+Instruments+Illustration+Music+Youtube+Channel+Art.jpg Videos Honoring the Great Slide Hampton - A Tribute to the Master Trombonist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/826c9ba7-f699-483b-9986-7d22c10eb201/Black+Instruments+Illustration+Music+Youtube+Channel+Art%286%29.png Videos The Chops Shop: Trombone Masterclass Hobart, Tasmania https://thechops-shop.com/book-a-lesson daily 0.75 2020-05-15 https://thechops-shop.com/testimonials daily 0.75 2022-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/b211e16d-7cf6-4a39-b01f-bea4ebb0f7e4/DSC_2337.JPG Testimonials - What People Are Saying "Dion knows his craft very well. He is helping me learn to play in a more efficient and relaxed way. This method helps me with tone, flexibility, range and overall playing—everything is starting to become easier to play. I recommend giving it a try!" — Charles Gerundo, Trombone, Coral Springs, FL "I’ve been studying with Dion for two months and I’ve seen noticeable improvements in my sound and endurance. I now have a bigger sound with less work. Each lesson is specialized—like a patient seeing a doctor." — Shareef Clayton, Trumpet, NYC “An excellent session and I highly recommend it. Dion's explanations and exercises really helped me understand concepts I know of, but put into a language that I could better understand and put into practice. The follow-up lesson summary and materials are really good value for money. Thoroughly looking forward to the next session.” — Martin Smith, Trombone, Hobart, Australia “It’s been a blast being able to learn from Dion’s clear, individualized plan to improve my playing efficiency. Thanks to Dion’s guidance, I have been able to increase my range and use my air more efficiently. I felt the change almost instantly—each concept has built upon the last and is helping me to make drastic changes to my playing with small, incremental adjustments to my approach. I recommend Dion Tucker to anyone who is interested in becoming a more efficient, powerful brass player!” — Mark Braud, Trumpet, New Orleans “I will forever be grateful to have touched paths with Dion. I found myself back in the late summer of 2018 feeling very unsure of whether my trombone playing career would continue or not. As much as I loved playing, things had progressively gotten worse over the course of a few weeks and I had no idea why. I spent about a year and a half beating my head against the wall and it was not until I connected with Dion online that I actually found some hope. It is very rare to find a teacher who can do and teach and be a genuine human and Dion is one of them. We did not work on playing changes or lip slurs or etudes, but on things most would consider weird or trivial. But it is through this initial guidance and wisdom Dion shared with me that I am able to feel optimistic about the future [of my playing].” — Nazaret Castillo, Trombone, Houston https://thechops-shop.com/contact daily 0.75 2020-06-30 https://thechops-shop.com/bio daily 0.75 2022-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e95f6b95b3868257a149ac8/5fc297ab-d84a-4767-b3a0-818dceb2cbda/2DSC_2406.jpg Bio - Bio Dion Tucker is an accomplished trombonist, composer, and music educator with an oeuvre that defies genre. Boston-born and Miami-bred, Dion moved to New York in 1998 to study at The New School under the tutelage of pioneering trombonists Benny Powell and Steve Turre, among others. In 2001, he had the privilege of touring with the rock band Matchbox 20 and was lead trombonist in The Duke Ellington Orchestra from 2003 until 2013. Since 2007, Dion has been a member of The Harry Connick, Jr. Big Band and has had the unique opportunity to perform with Harry for President Barack Obama at the 2012 Governors Ball, as lead trombonist in the 2011 Broadway revival of “On A Clear Day,” and as the trombonist in the 2018 stage adaptation of the Academy Award winning film, “The Sting,” performed at the historic Paper Mill Playhouse. More recently Dion served as the lead trombonist in Connick’s original Broadway show “A Celebration of Cole Porter,” featuring the music of the great American composer Cole Porter. As an educator, Dion has taught in over 20 New York City public schools through the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz for Young People program. He also served as a clinician at the Snipes Academy of Arts and Design for hundreds of students, focusing on musical styles such as New Orleans jazz and Be-bop. In July of 2020, Dion took his love of teaching to the internet and created his own online teaching platform “The Chops Shop.” The Chops Shop is a platform where strategies are provided for brass players to avoid embouchure misuse and overuse, and to share techniques with musicians to help them to perform more efficiently and execute music more confidently. He is currently the Director of the New Jersey Youth Symphony Jazz program and a faculty member of the Steinhardt Jazz Studies program at NYU. Throughout his career, Dion has shared the stage with many jazz, soul and gospel greats including Ray Charles, The Count Basie Band, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis, Aretha Franklin, The Maria Schneider Orchestra, John Hendricks, The Lionel Hampton Band, Frank Foster’s Loud Minority Big Band, American Symphony Orchestra with pianist Marcus Roberts, Clark Terry & the Young Titans of Jazz, Joey De-Francesco, Catherine Russell, Christian McBride, The Rufus Reid Big Band and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra where he is currently a member. Dion’s many television appearances comprise of ceremonies such as the 2013 Kennedy Center Honor Awards honoring blues great Buddy Guy and rock legends Led Zepplin, and the 2009 Mark Twain Prize; day-time television programs The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The View, LIVE with Kelly and Michael, The Today Show and Good Morning America; late-night programs such as The David Letterman Show, The Tonight Show, and The Jimmy Fallon Show; music programs American Idol, Australian Idol; and the 2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, where he had the pleasure of playing with piano legends Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Art and Ivan Neville, Ellis Marsalis, and Davell Crawford. From 2016 to 2018, Dion was a band member on the Daytime Emmy Award winning talk show, HARRY, performing with Michael McDonald, Gladys Knight, Gloria Estefan, Sheila E., and many others. Among his other accomplishments: Dion was a featured artist at the 2010 and 2016-2021 North Carolina Jazz Festival, performed with the Lincoln Center All-Star Band for the Tony-nominated Broadway “After Midnight,” contributed his musical talent to the 2018 Grammy Award winning gospel album, “Let Them Fall in Love,” by CeCe Winans, and served as composer for his band Oddlogik’s album Modern Authenticity.