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 Hal Miller ,
Robbie Heighway, Terry Smirl, and the rest of the MATC music teachers. You guys
are awesome!!!
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