Get to know me

What instruments do you play?

I play double bass and bass guitar. I also dable in acoustic guitar.

How often do you practice?

Probably 3-4 times per week, although I’m worse in the summer haha.

What do you enjoy about performing?

I like showcasing something that I have learned. I also think that there is a special emotional connection you can achieve when you perform a piece you care about.

What is the hardest part about playing an instrument?

For double bass accurate shifting and checking intonation, but hauling them around isn’t easy either. I remember a few times in Jazz Band where I had my bass guitar strapped to my back and I was carrying my double bass. Doorways were not my friend.

What kind of music do you listen to for fun?

I listen to a pretty wide range of music, but I love older rock and pop. Rock ballads are some of my favorites.

What is your proudest accomplishment & why?

My proudest moment is probably my sophomore year in Jazz Band. We played difficult music, and our ballad for that year was Come Rain Or Come Shine. It was a beautiful slow song that switched between triple and duple feel constantly; I knew that song inside and out. I listened to it hundreds of times and practiced it constantly, then we performed and I could relax and truly enjoy making music with everyone.

Who do you look up to & why?

Mr. Robison the FDSH Orchestra Director and my bass professor. He is an awesome guy who makes playing strings look easy (it is not).

How do you see music in your life in 25 years?

Jeez, I don’t even know what my life looks like in 25 years, but I hope music will still be a part of it. Music has been important throughout my childhood, yet I am at a new stage of my life where I get to choose music for myself. While I don’t have the structure or as much time for music, I am discovering a different kind of passion that I hope will last for the rest of my life.

What are your plans for this fall?

I’m going to Iowa Central to be in the nursing program, and I am going to continue vocal music. I haven’t decided what I am going to do with instrumental music yet, but I would love to be in a jazz group or musical pit.