hen I was thirteen I played my first show of original music with a band of my best friends to a crowd of two people. Since then, I’ve focused on studying how I can best serve the songs I’m writing and performing. This led me to studying singing with a private instructor. I studied all throughout high school and continued to write, rehearse, record and perform original music. After high school, I packed up my 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass with all my things, two of my friends, and drove to Los Angeles to study vocal performance at Musicians Institute.
After living there for two years and struggling to make ends meet, I moved back to my home town in Saint Charles, Missouri. I pursued a bachelor’s degree from Webster University music conservatory, and began my career as a private lesson music instructor and freelance musician. This gave me the opportunity to collaborate and travel the US with many esteemed teaching organizations such as Camp Jam, Saint Louis Rock School, Coeur Academy, and School of Rock.
In 2018, I released five songs for an EP titled I’ll Be Free. The songs deal with growing pains and the gain/loss of love. Click the cover to listen and read more about the project.
In 2019, I moved to Yangzhou, China to teach English as a second language. In China, I formed a band with a Canadian, an Italian, and a Yangzhou native. We called our band Hodgepodge and played shows around the Jiangsu province. In 2020, I was forced to unexpectedly move home because of the coronavirus.
I began writing songs for what turned into The Color Demos. This project was much different than I’ll Be Free because I was recording, arranging, mixing and producing on my own. Click the cover to listen and read more.
Once the world started to open back up I began teaching at various organizations such as Music and Arts, and Ernie Williamson Music. I played guitar with some amazing groups such as Eldraco Price and Olivia Bosaw and Greg Dallas. I also did some fun gigs, like guitar in the pit orchestra for a production of Tim Minchin’s Matilda the Musical at the Center of Creative Arts.
In 2021, I was accepted into a musicology graduate degree program at Utrecht University and moved to the Netherlands in 2022.
I’ve collaborated with some great organizations since moving to the Netherlands. I’ve worked with the Speelklok Museum to archive their inventory and help curate an exhibition that involves rhythm, melody and harmony. For this project, I interviewed musicians from Catching Cultures Orchestra.
In 2023, I taught music at the International School in Laren, Netherlands. I learned a lot about classroom management and curriculum development. In 2024, I began teaching a band course at Bom-b Music in Utrecht.
Keep an eye out for new music from me. Click here for more information about private lessons with me. Follow my socials to stay up to date.
My Projects
Want to read the liner notes as you listen? click on a project below!
The post discusses three types of guitars suitable for beginners: Classical, Acoustic, and Electric. It highlights their pros and cons, including string types, playability, and tonal qualities. The author shares personal experiences and emphasizes intrinsic motivation in learning. Recommendations for obtaining a guitar include renting, borrowing, or buying entry-level instruments.
Sometimes artists hit a plateau, feeling stuck in their progress. The key is maintaining the right attitude, focusing on routine, and staying curious. By listening, practicing, and analyzing, you can break through these barriers. Keep exploring what excites you in music, and don't shy away from challenges to keep advancing.
