About Me:
Using different elements of ragtime, blues, and jazz to teach musicianship and improvisation, I have students focus on:

* Reading (basic foundation of both clefs & use of a fake book)
* Theory/Technical training (warm up exercises: scales, chord arpeggios, hanon exercises)
* Ear training & transcription (playing with and transcribing from recordings)

In any style, students will dramatically improve all elements of their music.

Styles:
Jazz, Rock, Blues, Gospel, Country, R&B, Hip Hop, Funk, Fusion

Subjects:
Harmony, Theory, Ear Training, Songwriting, Arranging, Orchestration, Jazz Music History, Classical Music History, Rock Music History

Ages:
Elementary School, Pre-teen, Teenage, Adult

Major Influences:
John Medeski, Scott Joplin, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock

Experience:

• Alex Chappo : Major downtown songwriter artist with strong New Orleans influence. www.chappomusic.com [2007 - Present]
• Pat McLellan Band : St. Louis & New York based jazz fusion band. [2005 - Present]
• The Helping Phriendly Band : Midwest based tribute to the rock band Phish [2007 - 2007]
• Dave Frank School of Jazz : Berklee School of Music professor school of improv [2007 - Present]
• St. Gabriel the Archangel Symphonic Band : Assistant Conductor to Sister Gail Buckman [2004 - 2004]
• Webster University School Of Music : BA Jazz Piano & Music Ed [2002 - 2005]

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Piano (BA), Webster University [2005]

Studied With:

• Dave Frank [2007 - 2008]
• Carol Beth True [2000 - 2004]

Recent Performances:

• Rockwood Music Hall [June, 2008]
• Crash Mansion [June, 2008]
• Pianos [May, 2008]
• Resurection Presbyterian [May, 2008]
• The Lantern with Tycoon Dog [September, 2007]
• The Aquarium in Fargo with Helping Phriendly Band [June, 2007]
• The Three Legged Dog with Aldo Perez [September, 2006]
• The Whiskey Bar with the Zen Tricksters [February, 2006]
• Private Party Boston Harbor Hotel [January, 2006]
• Private Party with Gent Treadly [December, 2005]
• Camp Zoe with Devon Allman [July, 2004]
• Camp Zoe with Parliament Funkadelic [May, 2004]
• The Barrel House with the Schwag [May, 2003]

Discography:

• Stephen Wik - "Northside" [2007]
• Alex Chappo - "Media Machine" [2007]
• Kate Simkins - "Pretty Rooms" [2006]
• Pat McLellan Band - "Propaganda" [2005]
• Pat McLellan Band - "Green" [2004]
• Luminous Live - "Live 04" [2004]
• The Schwag - "New Years 12-31-04" [2004]
• Pat McLellan Band - "Green" [2004]
• Stephen Wik - "Ear Drum" [2003]
• Susan Kate - "Mile In Your Shoes" [2000]