Deep in the heart of LVA’s band program is Charisse Kawakami. She is the principal trumpet of V3 and one of the best trumpet players in the school
Charisse Kawakami first wanted to come to LVA because all of her middle school friends were going. “I wanted to go where my friends wanted to go, and I just submitted an audition on a whim.” She still feels like her audition could’ve gone better but she still made it.
Going from her junior to senior year, all of the trumpet players who were her mentors were graduating and she was going to become principal. She was really nervous because she was being given a lot of responsibility. “It was pretty exciting. I was very proud of myself to begin with, but I was also very scared. I often didn’t know what I was doing , and I felt like I wasn’t competent enough, but I realized through the process that if anyone were to do it, it would probably be me, so I had to take that role and go with it.”
When asked how being principal had given her experience as a leader, she said, “I think the experience it gave me was how to connect with people on a more personal level. It gave me the experience on how to recognize what people’s strengths and what their weaknesses are so I can help them, especially with the trumpet.” She uses her experiences to help other trumpet players, for example using her knowledge of braces (cause she had them) to provide tips to her sectionmates
“Just be confident in what you do. Know that you are principal for a reason. You were selected for reasons because you know what you’re doing and basically you have the best knowledge of your instrument. I’ve always felt like I’m just there to guide them. I’m not there to be the best: I’m there to help everyone succeed, which is what other principals should believe as well.” She deeply believes this and uses this mentality when she is helping her section during band. She never yells or is mad at her sectionmates either, just gives them constructive feedback.
Her advice for new trumpet players is “nothing is instant. Your progress is always going to be, always going to feel a little slow, and take things slow, especially with long tones and practicing. If you take the time, and if you do it slowly, the progress you’ll see over time will be very fast.”
