MATC Music Occupations Program - Success Stories - Jeannine Rivers

"The year was 2005 and I was 42 years old. My 18 year career in the Banking industry had come to an end. My daughter was 18 years old and leaving for college and I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life. Music has always been a pertinent part of my life. I come from a family of musicians that made sure that music stayed alive in my soul and I can’t remember a time when I did not sing! I decided to complete a path in my life that I had put on hold 24 years prior. I enrolled into the music program at MATC in August of 2005. I would soon learn the true meaning of what being a musician really meant. I was born a singer. The texture, sound and range of my voice are something that comes naturally to me. I had very little formal music training growing up as a child; but performing in front of audiences was nothing new to me.

The music program at MATC taught me a brighter side to music! I learned the importance of music theory, composition, piano, and ear training. I went into the music program not fully understanding how important these aspects were to music. Now I see the light! The theory and harmony classes taught by Hal Miller proved to be a complicated learning experience for me. He was able to take the most complex aspects of harmony and theory down to a level of understanding that allowed me to grasp his teachings. As a voice student I came to MATC with years of vocal training. Taking the performance technique classes with Robbi Heighway gave me the opportunity to build my confidence, stage presence, and vocal techniques. I have been able to take the knowledge learned through this class and become a better performer.

The Music Business class taught by Ben Hans proved to be my favorite class and a very valuable experience. I learned the importance of copyright laws, and how to promote my own music business successfully. My favorite part of the class was learning how to make a creative business plan and press kit.  I have also learned the importance of networking, social media, and music contracts and how to conduct business with other musicians. Through Ben’s guidance I have become very successful at booking my own gigs as well as booking gigs for other performers.

Since graduating from the music program at MATC I continue to perform at various festivals and music venues in Milwaukee and surrounding areas. I have had the pleasure of having articles written about my musicianship in the Shepherd Express and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In 2010 I was honored by Who’s Who of Black Milwaukee for my music excellence.  I am currently working on my Bachelor of Arts in voice at Cardinal Stritch University and I currently work as a voice teacher teaching K4- 12^th graders throughout various schools in the city of Milwaukee.  God has blessed me with a magnificent gift. I continuously look forward to the musical journey he has prepared for me."  

http://www.jeanninerivers.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6ot0411gAQ

MATC Jazz Ambassadors Perform Nov.18th, 2011

MATC Faculty Endorsement Announcement

MATC Music's Ben Hans has signed with Yamaha as a Yamaha Performing Artist.

http://www.yamaha.com/artists/artistdetailb.html?CNTID=5803099&CTID=5070020

MATC Music Occupations Program - Success Stories - Michael Mueller

"In fall of 1988, while attending UW-Milwaukee not really knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up, I began working at a small grocery store in Menomonee Falls, WI, where I met this long-haired guy who played guitar. His name was Steve Peplin. It wasn't long before break-room jam sessions commenced, and Steve told me about the guitar program at MATC and this amazing instructor named Jack Grassel. Steve invited me down to campus to hang out for a day, check out the program, and meet Jack. I enrolled the following September."

"In my two years at MATC, I was fortunate not only to get instruction from such wonderful teachers as Jack, Tom McGirr, and Gene Morrissette but also to be surrounded by highly devoted and incredibly talented classmates like Steve, Mike Butzen, Jeff Schroedl, Troy Nelson, and Chris Kringel, among others, who've all gone on to stellar careers in music. In fact, it was that relationship with Jeff Schroedl that later brought me into the Hal Leonard Corporation extended family, first as a freelance music and educational editor, and later as an editor at Guitar One magazine."

"Shortly after that, I moved to New York City, where I later served as editor-in-chief of Guitar One and Guitar Edge magazines. During my tenure with those publications, I interviewed and conducted lessons with such legendary guitarists as Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Angus Young, Alex Lifeson, Mark Tremonti, John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Frank Gambale, Zakk Wylde, John 5, Mike Stern, George Lynch, Phil Collen, Reb Beach, Joe Bonamassa, Steve Lukather, Adrian Legg, Neal Schon, and the great Les Paul."

"Additionally, I've written for several other music publications, authored or co-authored over 20 instructional books for Hal Leonard and Cherry Lane, been a contributing author to "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Guitar Heroes" and "101 Great Playlists," produced and scripted numerous instructional guitar DVDs and online video lessons for Hal Leonard, and edited countless guitar-related books. Currently, I manage GuitarInstructor.com, which offers fully licensed and authorized guitar tab, video lessons, and play-along jam tracks."

"Thanks to the MATC music program and the relationships forged while I was there, I get to play the guitar, write about the guitar, and market the guitar every day—and get paid for it. Not a bad gig, if you ask me. Good luck with your studies!"

Michael Mueller

http://www.guitarinstructor.com/

MATC Music Occupations Program - Success Stories - Joey Zak

"I had always known what I wanted to do from a young age. Play music in a rock band. After high school in Door County, WI, I remembered I had the choice of many colleges. I wanted to move to LA, but to make my parents happy, I chose school. I chose MATC, because a friend from the area had told me great things about their music program. I remember being only one of four students in the music occupations orientation!"

"After MATC and playing in several bands / studio projects from the Milwaukee area, Die Alone, Halo Speed and Eli Mattson, I started a job at Guitar Center in Brookfield. Selling drums for three years was fun, but I soon realized that I wanted to be on the other side of the counter as an artist buying product! During that time, I hooked up with Marashino as their drummer and toured the US for 6 years. I have been featured on news/radio stations and in Modern Drummer. I also won a WAMI in 2008 for best drummer. We played with many nationals such as Seether, Shinedown, Finger Eleven ect.. Also during this time, I played drums for Eli Mattson. Eli placed second on NBC's 2008 Americas Got Talent. I met Eli downstairs in the “C” building of MATC! During the time Marashino was without a singer in 2010, I received a phone call from Memphis that would change it all. My friend asked me to fill in on a tour playing drums in Joan Red, a Memphis band I was already friends with. This was a co-headlining tour with a band called Echovalve."

"After this tour, the singer of Echovalve, myself and the remnants of Marashino formed Dorydrive. We have since been on several national tours, opening for acts such as Tantric, Hinder, and Quiet Riot. We have recently made several ABC television appearances and have signed with management out of Florida, who continues to help us grow. Dorydrive has few publicists as well as sponsors such as Lovegone clothing, Samick Guitars, Re-Use Jeans and more.. The band is currently based out of Nashville, where we are being produced and recorded by Josh Mendez and Ryan Rossebo, who are both from the MATC music program as well! There is a lot to my story, and if you have any questions find me online and ask! The knowledge I gained, and the relationships that I made were building blocks for the success that I now have today. Thanks to MATC Music's Steve Peplin, Ben Hans, Jack Grassel, Robbie Heighway, Deb Klecker and all that helped so closely on a personal level during my years there!"

-Joey Zak
www.dorydrive.com
www.facebook.com/dorydrivemusic
www.facebook.com/joey.zak

MATC Music Occupations Program - Success Stories - Micah Olsan

When I started at MATC I had just begun teaching guitar lessons at a local music store, and was regularly gigging in the Madison and Milwaukee area.  I was a bit hesitant to study music at a "technical college," but then I met the teachers and more importantly heard them play.  I found kindred spirits in love with music and eager to share their knowledge.  What I learned in the ensemble classes, Steve Peplin's guitar and composition classes, and music business with Ben Hans were and still are vital to my continued success as musician and a (reluctant) businessman.

I currently teach guitar, beginning voice, and rock band ensemble classes at the Wisconsin Academy of Music in Germantown, WI and am regularly gigging throughout the Midwest with my band (Micah and the OCD Big Band) as well as a blue grass/jazz grass string quartet Big Bang String Thing.  I have self released two full length albums Giant Size Life (2007) and Off Beat Clappers and Hip Toe Tappers (2010), and am currently starting work on a new EP with the OCD Big Band. 

Visit www.micaholsan.com for more info, press, free downloads, performance schedule, or to join the mailing list.

Micah Olsan

http://www.micaholsan.com/fr_home.cfm 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PbZKVVudGE

MATC Music Occupations Program - Success Stories - Tony Gehring

“When I think about my time in the Music Occupations program the first thing I think about is family.  I went into this new experience not knowing anybody and not really even knowing what I was getting into and walking out a few years later with friends that I will have for life.  The Music Occupations program greatly benefited my playing skills, musical knowledge and networking ideas.

The theory and harmony classes taught by Steve Peplin were very easy to understand.  He took very complicated topics broke them down to the ground level and then built them back up.  Taking bass classes with Tom McGirr helped my playing immensely.  I was able to sight read better and apply the knowledge from the theory and harmony classes onto my instrument.

The Music Business class with Ben Hans was a great life experience.  At the time I was taking the Music Business class, my band Living Dred was just finishing up recording on our first album.  We were also planning on touring that summer after the album came out.  I had no idea about copyrights, press kits or how to start the process of promotion.  Ben helped guide me through the proper steps and also gave insightful ideas on how to get signed, start your own record label and how to network successfully with other musicians.  Since then Living Dred has toured twice, played over 200 shows, and we’re currently getting ready to release our 2^nd album.

I always look back at my time at MATC very fondly.  Before MATC I had fun playing music and not really understanding what I was doing.  Since leaving, it’s easier for me to write songs, I’m able to help my fellow band member’s better understand what they’re playing and I maintain successful relationships with venue owners and other bands.  It’s always great to go to local shows and run into MATC students and faculty, we still are one big family.”

-Tony Gehring

www.facebook.com/livingdred

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wekwO_Mcyz0