1% Trumpet Program (toot-your-own-horn.com) has a 5.0 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 23 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Education & Training and its reputation is excellent. Praise is nearly unanimous, with 100% rating it 4 stars or higher. Last updated 2026-08-10.
My name is Lorne or Doug.I have been involved in music since I started playing violin at 4. Currently I play in 4 bands as a saxophonist, Clarinetist, trombonist, bass and vocalist. With more time since retirement I have the good fortune to work as a clinician in assorted schools near where I live Am currently working on improving my trumpet chops and jazz improvisation skills. Just started working with Jesse who has a good approach to learning how to play brass and I'm looking forward to working with him and the rest of his group
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Joezer Mikalixen Joe · 1 review · Experienced 2026-05-01 ·
★★★★★
Program totally worth doing
I just started the program but Jesse's approach really did open my eyes to understand the trumpet and body dynamics and how they should work together and not against each other. Also, if you breakdown all the resources provided (e.g. personal coaching, dozens of practice/study materials...) the cost of this program is very reasonable and totally worth it.
I have been playing almost 6o years. I have played semi professional in both concert and swing bands. It had been 30 years since I had taken any lessons and found myself struggling to stay on top of my range and endurance. It came down to either a new horn or to try a new approach. I saw Jesse and 1% on the internet and decided this would be my last shot at trying to improve. I am a month into it and have learned that the lip/embouchure is the actual instrument. I am starting to develop some new habits and have noticed increased endurance. Still early, but I like what I see and hear. I hope it continues to get better. Thanks Jesse!
The program is organized extremely well. Jesse has fantastic information and materials to help guide you on your comeback journey as a trumpet player. Jesse is a very detailed instructor. If you follow his guidance you will surely see great progress in your playing.
In addition, Jesse has the ability to speak to the mental aspect of Trumpet playing. This is something that I definitely struggle with. His motivation and experience has allowed me to make great progress on my come back journey.
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Andy Perez · 1 review · Experienced 2026-01-01 ·
★★★★★
The program is well thought out that…
The program is well thought out that gives results. It's unbelievable. I have been struggling playing above the staff (let alone F on the staff) and within a short (in my case) I am able to play in the higher registry. As a comeback player (playing fir 30 years) I resigned myself to lower notes but now I can hit the higher notes and a stronger confidence. Jesse program is really wonderful. It's non judgemental and works with you where you are at.
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Christian Casey · 1 review · Experienced 2026-02-11 ·
★★★★★
Great Teacher
Jessie is an incredibly smart and analytical person. He's able to point out issues in my playing and provide exercises to reduce/eliminate their occurances.
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Leon Washington · 2 reviews · Experienced 2026-02-09 ·
★★★★★
THE program to help make you a better player
Although the classroom-type sessions are group participation, the individual private sessions help each participant address our personal needs, as well. Jesse and the mentors are playing professionals who are fully equipped to assist and guide us. We support each other and share info and personal experiences. We are family. Anyone who wants to improve their playing will benefit immensely. 1% is the mantra. Success is the result.
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Nelson Sandoval · 1 review · Experienced 2026-02-09 ·
★★★★★
My Review of Jesse Gracias’ 1% Trumpet…
My Review of Jesse Gracias’ 1% Trumpet Master Class
Training with Jesse Gracia for a full year has transformed my trumpet playing more than all my previous years combined. His 1% Trumpet Program is built on the simple but life‑changing idea of making small, consistent improvements every day. Those 1% changes have reshaped my habits, my technique, and my confidence.
When I joined the program, I came in with serious embouchure problems. I had played from elementary school through college, but years of blasting at football games in high school damaged my chops. In college I was always stuck on second or third parts, constantly struggling in the upper register, and never able to break through.
This past year changed everything.
My embouchure is now secure, stable, and consistent. I’m no longer jamming the horn into my face. My lips are vibrating freely at a higher frequency, giving me relief and freedom in the upper register. My airflow is supporting my sound instead of fighting it. My range has expanded. I can play lead parts—something I never imagined at this stage of my life. I still need to keep building endurance, but that’s simply a matter of scheduling practice time and applying what I’ve learned.
Jesse’s program has been a tremendous blessing. At 53, I prayed that I would be able to enjoy my trumpet playing well into my older years. Now that dream is becoming reality. The path is in front of me, and it’s up to me to keep pressing forward with the tools Jesse has given me.
I also want to honor Jesse personally. During my time in the program, he walked through the heartbreaking loss of his wife. Yet even in that season of deep pain, he continued teaching, encouraging, and pressing forward with strength that only God can give. His perseverance inspired me as much as his instruction.
To Jesse and the entire teaching staff: thank you. Your program doesn’t offer quick fixes—it offers real, honest change for those willing to work. I highly recommend the 1% Trumpet Program to anyone who wants to grow, rebuild, or finally achieve the musical goals they’ve carried for years.
God bless you all.
Nelson Sandoval
A trumpet player who happens to be a Pastor
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Josh W · 1 review · Experienced 2026-01-30 ·
★★★★★
My experience has been amazing
My experience has been amazing. I’ve grown leaps and bounds on my trumpet playing. From range to attack, all parts of my trumpet has improved. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested.
Jesse has created a masterful approach to analyzing the myriad aspects of playing the trumpet and presents his strategies in a way that is easy to understand. There is no question that he sincerely cares about each player's progress. His expertise and enthusiasm make this course a completely positive experience!
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fernando marcano · 1 review · Experienced 2026-01-24 ·
★★★★★
A Well Rounded and Complete Trumpet Program
I have been in the 1% Trumpet Program for about two years. What I have gotten most out of the program is that I have able to organize my practice in a way that I am able monitor improvement - or if something has not worked - very closely and quickly. In addition, Jesse has a lot of knowledge on the trumpet embochure, how it works and it has helped me discover things about that I did not know prior to joining the program. Currently, I am working on that in various ways. I am very happy with the results so far, as I contine to improve on my trumpet journey.
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Mark D · 3 reviews · Experienced 2026-01-20 ·
★★★★★
Jesse is intense
Jesse is intense! a good intense. I have learned many new things about the way to play. From mind set to physical. Wish I knew all of this when I first started out.
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Steve · 1 review · Experienced 2026-01-20 ·
★★★★★
Here are the Trumpet Tools to Make Major Improvements
As an older player, until recently I had accepted that I'd have to live with declines in trumpet sound, stamina and overall playing. However, through this masterful program I've learned to (finally) observe the real issues holding me back and fix bad habits to get where I want to be -- playing with a full sound, crisp attacks, confidence to hit notes, endurance and most of all the enjoyment I once had. This program is not a magic bullet and takes focus, patience and determination. It is like being given a mirror to see "where we are at" and make improvements with a combination of Jesse's expertise and our own intuition. And it is not a quick fix -- for example I had to radically alter my former embouchure while correcting overblowing and upper body tension and that has taken me 100+ days to settle into and I am liking it. As for online resources and self-learning, Jesse has pulled together an incredible trumpet knowledge base of hundreds of articles, links, and insightful teaching videos available to the group 24x7, and he's constantly adding to it. If you are willing to incorporate solid practice, identify and drop old habits, carefully log your progress, and put in focus time, the program is very much worthwhile and a great investment.
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L Grossman · 1 review · Experienced 2026-01-20 ·
★★★★★
A senior amateur trumpeter still trying to improve
I’ve played trumpet for many (<50) years. A 15 year gap in the ‘80s and 90s. No lessons since high school. I’ve just played in local community bands. I started with the 1% program about 2 years ago because I was frustrated with my lack of endurance.
From the very beginning I was impressed with Jesse’s attention to detail in all aspects of playing. We have worked on embouchure position, embouchure strengthening, breath support, tongue position, and posture. We’ve looked at practice techniques, length of practice, rest times, and indicators of the need to rest. He has taught me free buzzing. I learned about the CTS pressure gauge. So many of these aspects of playing were new to me. My endurance has improved and my practice routine is more goal directed.
Jesse is focused on measurable results. He understands the struggles players like me experience. He’s an excellent instructor. The program has mostly group lessons and one on one lessons.
Playing trumpet is hard, and many of us have bad habits which can be a challenge to break. He understands this fact and has techniques to break these habits.
If you’re willing to put in the time and commitment, the 1% program with Jesse is a great choice.
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Dara Adams-Smith · 1 review · Experienced 2026-01-19 ·
★★★★★
A Trumpet Program That Is Truly Transformative
I joined the 1% Trumpet Program in August 2024 with the expectation that it would help me improve my range, endurance, and overall technique as a freelance trumpeter performing weekly with a variety of ensembles. Having played the trumpet for more than forty years, and after retiring from a twenty-two-year career as a middle school and high school band director, I finally had the opportunity to devote greater focus to trumpet performance and more frequent gigging. However, as my playing increased significantly between 2022 and 2024, I began to realize that performing on the trumpet was becoming physically exhausting and, at times, painful. It became clear that I needed a more efficient and sustainable approach—one that emphasized proper tools and technique while avoiding excessive mouthpiece pressure, overblowing, and playing at unnecessarily high volumes over dance band rhythm sections. Additionally, despite my many years of experience, I had not yet achieved the level of proficiency I aspired to, particularly the skills required to comfortably and consistently perform commercial lead trumpet parts in big bands and dance bands. The 1% Trumpet Program appeared to be an ideal fit for my specific goals and needs.
Several factors have contributed to making my experience exceptionally positive. The program offers an asynchronous learning environment that allows participants to progress at their own pace through a variety of modules, while also providing opportunities to schedule one-on-one sessions for individualized instruction. The coaching calls serve as an effective forum for guided practice with the instructor and fellow participants. The program clearly demonstrates what it means to practice efficiently and achieve measurable improvement in a shorter amount of time. Additionally, the instructor introduces new method books and explains multiple approaches to studying them, as well as how to integrate more traditional methods without becoming disengaged or stagnant. Participants also engage in discussions on how to evaluate and experiment with new equipment, including mouthpieces, trumpets, mutes, and CTS. Most importantly, the instructor and staff are able to closely observe my playing, identify areas in need of improvement, and provide targeted solutions to address my specific challenges as a trumpet player.
This program demonstrates a strong commitment to flexibility by effectively meeting the needs of its clients within an encouraging and supportive online community. The content presented in the modules is highly informative and is continually updated in response to client feedback, as well as the instructor’s observations regarding improvements that would benefit the group as a whole. The 1% Trumpet Program / Toot Your Own Horn has fundamentally transformed my mindset and approach to trumpet performance, and it has also had a significant impact on how I teach my own students.
-DMAS
Being a comeback player it's important to have a program that gets you going in the right direction. For me after many years of not playing, unfortunately you don't just pick up the instrument and start from where you once were 20 years ago. A lot of things change. Motivation is also important, it's easy to give up. This program offers a wealth of information along with guided instruction so you continue your journey to reach your goals. Like most things you get out of it what you put in, and for those of us who are dedicated to improvement and enjoyment this program works.
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Michelle · 1 review · Experienced 2026-01-15 ·
★★★★★
The Road to Recovery - My Experience with the 1% Trumpet Program
The Road to Recovery — and So Much More
My Experience with the 1% Trumpet Program
About a year and four months ago, I virtually lost my ability to play the trumpet.
When I found Jesse, I was at a point of real struggle—honestly, a point of weakness. I was facing the possibility of quitting something I had done for decades. I was still an active band member, and the thought of walking away from the trumpet was terrifying.
So I reached out to Jesse. I explained what had happened, where I was, and what I hoped might still be possible.
For context: when many of us start playing in middle school or high school (Jr school in my case), there are a lot of things that either aren’t taught—or aren’t taught clearly. Over the years, even with lessons, some teachers struggle to fully explain the what, the why, and the how in a way that sets you up for long-term success and longevity on the instrument.
Long story long—I’ve dealt with recurring fever blisters since marching band and my early college years. About a year and four months ago, I got a particularly severe one. I had always played through them, and at that moment, that turned out to be the worst thing I could have done.
The result was devastating.
I went from being someone who could reasonably command the trumpet—playing solos, functioning confidently—to someone who suddenly played like a kindergartner. It was shocking. This was an instrument I had lived with for decades, and suddenly, I could barely make it work. I’m not a virtuoso, never claimed to be—but I could play. After that injury, I absolutely could not.
I tried for months to fix things on my own. Eventually, I realized I had two choices: get real help, or be done.
That’s when I committed to working with Jesse.
We talked. I had an intro lesson. He listened. He was genuine. He also shared that he had experienced his own injuries and setbacks—and had rebuilt himself from them. That mattered. He took me on personally, and we went to work.
Here I am almost a year later—and I can play again.
I’m not exactly where I was yet, but I am so much better than I was. I’m close to regaining real command of the instrument, and more importantly, I finally understand why things work—or don’t work.
What separates Jesse and the 1% Trumpet Program from everything else I’ve tried is this:
he understands the trumpet deeply—its physics, its mechanics, and how the body actually interacts with it—and he knows how to translate that knowledge into clear, actionable coaching.
Over the years, I tried researching, gathering tips, listening to different opinions. So many players can’t explain what they’re doing in a way you can actually apply. Jesse can. He explains things in ways that move the needle—plain and simple.
The progress I’ve made in one year has been significant. I’ve uncovered so many things I had been doing wrong for so many years—without even realizing it.
I’m coming up on my one-year mark, and I’m re-upping without hesitation. I don’t plan on stopping. I believe another year will not only get me back to where I was, but put me in a place where I can survive, play healthier, and continue moving forward with confidence.
This program isn’t just about recovery.
It’s about understanding the trumpet in a way I never did before—and finally building something that will last.
Consistent Progress, Clear Direction, Real Results!
I’ve been a member of the 1% Trumpet community for the past two years, and it has truly been transformative. This program completely changed how I understand effective practice—helping me make consistent, compounding improvements in far less time than I ever thought possible.
The instructor is phenomenal and genuinely invested in your growth. He has an exceptional ability to help you identify specific roadblocks and then map out the most efficient, personalized path forward. There’s no guesswork—just clear direction and purpose behind every practice session.
What really sets this program apart is the community. You’re not practicing in isolation. Through the Skool platform, you connect with other trumpeters at different stages of their journey, share struggles, give constructive peer feedback, and tackle challenges together. That support system alone is invaluable.
As a member, you also get ongoing access to a huge library of resources, recorded coaching calls, and structured modules that you can revisit anytime. Everything is laid out in a way that builds confidence and momentum.
Because of this program, I finally feel equipped to reach my trumpet goals—1% at a time. I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone serious about improving their playing.
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Bruce McKinnon Jr · 4 reviews · Experienced 2026-01-15 ·
★★★★★
1% Trumpet Program is FANTASTIC!
Jesse is a FANTASTIC teacher. He goes above and beyond for you, both personally and on the coaching calls.
In terms of my playing, I went from not being able to articulate on the horn, not being able to make it through gigs without my face falling off, and G on top of the staff being a struggle most days…
To clean articulation across registers, making it strongly through 4-hour gigs, gigging 3 nights in a row no problem, high Bb being in my every day range, and knowing how to continue developing even while being a working trumpet player!
I can’t give Jesse and his program enough praise. Definitely worth every penny and more!!
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KAREN K GRIFFIN · 2 reviews · Experienced 2026-01-15 ·
★★★★★
Jesse Garcia is a great trumpet player and a man with a strong work ethic and the highest level of integrity you will find!
I have played the trumpet for many decades. I have studied with some phenomenal teachers, such as Vince Cichowiz, Arnold Jacobs, Alan Dean and others. I have a MM in Trumpet Performance and completed all of my coursework for a DMA in Performance and Pedagogy. I have played professionally and have 5 years of full-time college teaching. As an older player, I was looking for a trumpet class that would keep me motivated to practice and constantly improve. I tried a different class first and felt it was a total waste of time and money. Then I found Jesse’s class. I am so impressed with Jesse’s knowledge and work ethic. He really cares about everyone in the program and is very generous with his time and efforts. I am very impressed with his knowledge, his commitment to the program, and his incredible work ethic.
I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn and become a better player. Or if you want to maintain where you are at. Or if you just want play for fun. Or if you are a comeback player. You get the idea! Sign up and learn and grow and become a better player! You can’t go wrong with this program!!
