Wednesday, April 17, 2013

MATC MUSIC Occupations Program Success Stories - Rick Waggoner


It was back in 2002 when I started the MATC Music program. Prior to that I tried culinary arts school and other career fields, but couldn't really find anything I liked. I'd been playing guitar since I was 13, but all I really knew was the cool parts of songs. Now that I think about it, I don't even think I knew the pentatonic scale. The MATC Music faculty took me right in and helped me figure out that music was the path I wanted to follow career wise. One thing I really liked was that you have to learn a couple instruments and take a couple voice lab classes besides your main instrument. That right there makes you more valuable, which in return helps job security whether its playing or teaching.  I can't thank the music teachers enough for how they helped me. They did more then what they had to, and that's something I'll never forget. They helped me learn a lot in a short period of time.  To this day I still follow the practice habits they instilled in me, I also follow the advice they'd give me business wise. Since 2004 I've made my whole income from music whether its teaching or playing. In the beginning it was mostly from teaching but slowly it became all playing. I won a WAMI award in 2007 and 2008 for country band of the year playing with Geoff Landon and I've opened up for national acts such as Gretchen Wilson, Luke Bryan, Eddie Money, and Bret Michaels just to name a few. I've even played on stage with the 80's band Survivor.



2 gigs that stick out the most are when I played a late slot at Summerfest. Geoff Landon opened for recording artist Clay Walker that night, and a lot of my family came out to see. I also got to play The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Iowa. Buddy Holly played his last show there so you could imagine the energy that you felt playing on that stage. Since 2009 I've been touring the mid-west with variety bands; Tammy and The Bad Boyfriends and The White Ties, playing casinos and an occasional Honky Tonk. I now work out of Nashville Tennessee and I absolutely love it. Because of the faculty and the music courses I'm making a living doing what I love to do. I want to give a big thank you to Steve Peplin, Ben Hans, Jack Grassel, Hal Miller, Robbie Heighway, Terry Smirl, and the rest of the MATC music teachers. You guys are awesome!!!