This study documents the performing and teaching career of Armando Ghitalla (1925-2001), and describes his pedagogical approach with an emphasis on understanding his approach to teaching embouchure. It includes as appendices a comprehensive discography of his solo, chamber, and orchestral recordings, a listing of his solo performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a selected list of former students, and copies of his advanced flexibility and transposition studies.The personal interview served as the primary source of data for this study. The subject, Armando Ghitalla, participated in an in-depth interview with the author which was recorded and transcribed. Subsequent data was gathered from former students through the use of an open-ended questionnaire. Follow-up interviews were held with several of the respondents. Previously published articles, interviews, reviews, and an unpublished recording of a trumpet clinic were also consulted.Ghitalla was a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for twenty-eight years, serving as solo trumpet of the Boston Pops Orchestra from 1951-1965 and principal trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1965-1979. He was active as a virtuoso trumpet soloist and had a distinguished career as a trumpet professor following his retirement from the Boston Symphony. His success as an orchestral performer, solo performer, and noted pedagogue distinguish him from many of his contemporaries. / School of Music

Embouchure dysfunctions, including those from acute injury to the obicularis oris muscle, represent potential and serious occupational health problems for trumpeters. Forces generated between the mouthpiece and lips, generally a result of how a trumpeter plays, are believed to be the origin for such problems. In response to insights gained from new technologies that are currently being used to measure mouthpiece forces, belief systems and teaching methodologies may need to change in order to resolve possible conflicting terminology, pedagogical instructions, and performance advice. As a basis for such change, the purpose of this study was to investigate, develop and propose an operational definition of mouthpiece forces applicable to trumpet pedagogy. The methodology for this study included an analysis of writings by selected brass pedagogues regarding mouthpiece force. Finding were extracted, compared, and contrasted with scientifically derived mouthpiece force concepts developed from scientific studies including one done at the UNT Texas Center for Music & Medicine. Results characterized five mouthpiece force principles as the basis for an operational definition of mouthpiece force. This definition recognizes the relationships between average mouthpiece force and mouthpiece force variability. Mouthpiece force principles as presented in this study may contribute to a better understanding of mouthpiece force and its link to lip related injuries. However, additional studies are needed to better understanding the relationships between how the trumpet is taught and learned and the resulting mouthpiece forces produced when playing the trumpet.