Piano Lessons in Mesquite, TX

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet Oboe

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I started playing clarinet because the private sax teacher I had during high school insisted that I learn. I'm glad I did. I'm not as accomplished on clarinet as I am on sax and oboe but I can hold my own on most pieces. If you want to improve your technique as a woodwind player, I highly recommend learning clarinet. I chose oboe while in the military because I wanted to get promoted. In the army at the time, oboe was a shortage instrument and saxophone was not so I started taking oboe lessons. I had no idea I would fall in love with the instrument.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Music did not run in the family I grew up in. I'm the only one of five children that play any instrument. My sister begged my parents for a clarinet then it sat under her bed for 3 months. My father used to say, "The only thing I can play is the radio." My children on the other hand are very musical. One of my daughters took guitar lessons for a while and was very good. Her teacher would end up staying an extra 30 minutes many times because he loved teaching her. As I mentioned in an earlier post my son Ruben is very good.

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
As a military musician I was already being paid to play but I think the defining moment came when I saw friend's band performing in Germany. My friends R&B group was better than anything I had ever heard. I grew up near Atlanctic city and have heard awsome casino bands. My friends band was better. At that moment I sarted getting involve in different groups. When I retired from the army I started finding places to play. Within a couple of years I had work myself up to playing 5 and 6 nights a week.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
If I weren't a musician I would be a carpenter. I think carpenters are one the greatest professions around. Being able to take wood and build a house is an amazing thing to me. Then you have the specialist like cabinet makers. I met a master carpenter from Ireland many years ago, he made the most amazing cabinet with hand carved features with Teak panels. I love everything about carpentry, the smell of the different woods. The sanding, the staining, look of the grain. I guess making a woodwind instrument like an oboe, clarinet, or bassoon would kind of be like a master carpenter.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I have several favorites, I don't think anyone has just one favorite style unless they are the most boring person in history. I guess my first favorite to play would be R&B because that's what I grew up listening to. Next would be Jazz just because there are so many directions to go in. When I was around 28 years old I rented to movie Black Orpheus. Ever since watching that movie I have been in love with old Brazilian music. I'm talking about Jobim, Bonfa, Gilberto era Bossa Nova music. The genres I have mentioned are timeless. Every time I perform this music heads turn and start to nod to the beat.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
I have several dream pieces of music I wish to perform. All of them would be to test my abilities. The first piece I would love to master and perform is by Yellowjackets, the piece is called "Out of Town." It's like a modern Bebop tune. Another piece is by Michael Franks call "You Belong to Me." It's not hard technically but its a Bossa Nova which is one of my favorite styles of music. Joshua Redman has a piece a called Hide and Seek. It's a just a blues progression but he wrote a Kick-A melody that would take me a few weeks to learn. On oboe one of my favorite pieces is Trios Pieces for Woodwind quintet. It just very challenging for oboe I love it1

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