Experienced professional musician with three years teaching experience and ten years experience touring America and Europe in all styles of music including symphony orchestras, jazz, rock, country and show bands, is available for music instruction. Main teaching philosophy is to start with mechanical fundamentals of how to physically play the instrument within a context of music fundamentals (scales, melodies, chords, etc.). Once the student can play a little, after a month or so, using the student’s strengths to direct their growth in their own personal way, their strengths can dictate their individual growth into playing music. Thus their personal strengths are used to develop their musical ability and develop their weaknesses into musical strengths unique to the individual.
Many music students are not interested in learning to read music. However, instructor can teach how to read music to whomever wishes. Teaches guitar, bass guitar, drums, symphonic percussion, contra-bass, mechanics of music.
EXPERIENCE
Played bass guitar, drums, guitar and sang background harmonies in a touring rock band in most of the major cities of Western Europe, then at Rhodes City, Rhodes, Greece (Colorado Club). (October 2005 – November 2007)
Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus – (June 1995 – Nov 2003)
Performed as bass guitarist on tour, wrote songs for show and helped arrange songs.
Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus – (Nov 2003 – April 2005)
Performed as drummer for the show. Helped arrange songs and show transitions, programmed Roland Electric Drum Kit and accented floor performer ‘tricks’ by playing into the trick, accenting the catch or hit with a rim-shot combined with a crash cymbal, then playing smoothly back into the song as necessary.
MARS Music Store – (June 1997 – December 1999)
Music Teacher – Taught Guitar, Bass guitar, Drums and Band classes. Basic to advanced playing techniques and music theory emphasizing a foundation in fundamentals, leading to abstract musical approaches. Group recitals performed by students periodically on the store stage.
Rockin’ Robin Music Store – (November 1995 – June 1996)
Music Teacher – Taught Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums. Basic to advanced playing techniques and music theory emphasizing a foundation in fundamentals, leading to abstract musical approaches.
Albert George Jazz Band – (1987 – 1989)
Jazz music performer – Full-time performer in professional jazz band on drums, then bass guitar when Samurai Celestial (drummer with Sun Ra’s Arkestra) joined the group.
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra – (1986 – 1989)
Worked under the direction of Zoltan Rozhnai (former understudy to Leonard Bernstein at the New York Philharmonic) as Contra-bassist.
Kingsport Symphony Orchestra – (1986 – 1989)
Performed as Contra-bassist or percussionist as directed.
San Angelo Symphony Orchestra – (1989)
Performed as Contra-bassist
Professional recording studio musician – (1986 – present)
Played Bass Guitar, Drums, Guitar for CDs, demos, radio/TV jingles, industrial videos, program videos, etc.
EDUCATION
University of Tennessee – (1986 – 1988)
Attended on a full ride scholarship in Contra-bass and a full ride scholarship in Percussion.
Studied jazz under Jerry Coker, nationally known jazz instructor who, while at the University of Miami, taught Jaco Pastorious, Pat Metheny, Bob Moses, members of The Dixie Dregs, etc.
