MY MUSIC HISTORY

I have played music for a long time. This is a summary of my life in music. As you can see, I have a lot of experience with many kinds of music on many different instruments. I've been accused of being a "jack of all trades, master of none". That has a ring of truth to it. Still, there is a lot to be said for decades of experience. To be clear, the only degree in music I can claim is a Bachelor of Applied Experience from the University of Hard Knocks. :-) First occurrence of each instrument/role highlighted.

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1st grade:  my grandmother began "Teaching [my] Little Fingers to Play", piano
7th grade:  clarinet, beginning band
8th grade:  bass clarinet, band
9th grade:  bass clarinet, band
            bassoon, orchestra
            electric bass, folk choir
10th grade: bassoon, high school orchestra
            drum major, B marching band
            bassoon, Rapid City (SD) Civic Symphony
11-12 grades: bassoon, high school orchestra
            bassoon, high school concert band
            drum major, high school marching band
            student director, high school concert band
            bassoon, Casper (WY) Youth Symphony
            bassoon, Casper (WY) Civic Symphony
            electric bass, cover band

Freshman, college, music major:
    1st semester: bassoon, orchestra
            clarinet, marching band
            electric bass, Tijuana Brass cover band
    2nd semester: bassoon, orchestra
            string bass, lessons
            baritone sax, jazz band
            electric bass, Tijuana Brass cover band
            string bass, Idaho Oldtime Fiddlers

Military service, Thailand
            electric bass, GI bands

Post-military adult
            electric bass, tenor sax, rock & country cover band; on weekends we expanded to 11 pieces and did a 50's-style floor show
            keyboard,  rock & country cover duo

            electric bass, keyboard, rock & country country band with employees of state mental hospital; we played for the “consumers” from time to time, and we won a state volunteer award for our efforts
            arranger/director, keyboard, CCM & traditional Christian band
            piano, church worship

Other toys along the way: fiddle, banjo, mandolin