The band teacher at Dickson High School my senior year had studied percussion at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He encouraged me to try out there on the baritone horn. I tried out and received a scholarship for tuition, books and fees. I actually received 2 scholarships for tuition, books and fees...one was an academic scholarship, and the other was music. I started as an instrumental major on the baritone horn, but after taking Men's Glee Club with Mr. Casey, I changed my major to combined instrumental and vocal at his urging. I was one of two music students in my class that had a combined instrumental/vocal major. The other was Jeff Leslie(an award winning lyricist who, for a time, contributed to Star Song Records in Nashville), who at one time was my room mate and is now a songwriting partner of mine. In college I studied all aspects of music and took private vocal, baritone horn, guitar, and piano lessons. For my senior recital, I sang, played classical guitar, and played the baritone horn.
After graduating from college, I taught 2 years in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; 1 year in Hinton, Oklahoma, 1 year in Waurika, OK, and after taking a break from teaching for a few years, I taught 1 year in Dover, OK. I taught 5th-12th grade band and 5th-12th grade choir. During this time I decided that teaching in the public school system was not for me.
From 1979 until now, I have worked in several fields in addition to teaching school...radio announcer/dj, Hardee's manager, Braum's manager, home remodeling, respiratory service technician, and management support team at WalMart. One thing was constant during those years---my love for music. My involvement in music grew from singing and playing guitar to writing songs, arranging music, collaborating on songs, and leading worship (traditional and contemporary). 90% of my music experience has been church related.
In 1985 we moved to Enid--we meaning my family of 7 at the time--Karen my wife, Isaac, Daniel, David, Rebekah, and Noah. Gideon was born after we moved. in 1997, I was working for Jensen's Music (later Brook Mays Music, and now Midwest Music). I noticed the number of folks coming in asking about guitar lessons and decided to give it a try. It wasn't long before I had a full schedule of students on Monday nights. Soon every night was full, and I found a job that allowed me to get off earlier in the day so I could start lessons as soon as public school was out. Harvest School of Music---now Guitar Tuna---was born in 1997. At some points in the history of the studio, we have had over 80 students taking lessons on a weekly basis. Twice during that time I employed an additional teacher. One was my son Isaac, who died with his friends Sarah, Stevo, and Aaron in a car accident in 2006. After that, a former outstanding student, Luke Buthman, taught with me for a time.
Right now, I teach alone and have a waiting list of over 30 students.
After graduating from college, I taught 2 years in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; 1 year in Hinton, Oklahoma, 1 year in Waurika, OK, and after taking a break from teaching for a few years, I taught 1 year in Dover, OK. I taught 5th-12th grade band and 5th-12th grade choir. During this time I decided that teaching in the public school system was not for me.
From 1979 until now, I have worked in several fields in addition to teaching school...radio announcer/dj, Hardee's manager, Braum's manager, home remodeling, respiratory service technician, and management support team at WalMart. One thing was constant during those years---my love for music. My involvement in music grew from singing and playing guitar to writing songs, arranging music, collaborating on songs, and leading worship (traditional and contemporary). 90% of my music experience has been church related.
In 1985 we moved to Enid--we meaning my family of 7 at the time--Karen my wife, Isaac, Daniel, David, Rebekah, and Noah. Gideon was born after we moved. in 1997, I was working for Jensen's Music (later Brook Mays Music, and now Midwest Music). I noticed the number of folks coming in asking about guitar lessons and decided to give it a try. It wasn't long before I had a full schedule of students on Monday nights. Soon every night was full, and I found a job that allowed me to get off earlier in the day so I could start lessons as soon as public school was out. Harvest School of Music---now Guitar Tuna---was born in 1997. At some points in the history of the studio, we have had over 80 students taking lessons on a weekly basis. Twice during that time I employed an additional teacher. One was my son Isaac, who died with his friends Sarah, Stevo, and Aaron in a car accident in 2006. After that, a former outstanding student, Luke Buthman, taught with me for a time.
Right now, I teach alone and have a waiting list of over 30 students.
