Collegiate Teaching Experience 

Director/Instructor, Central College; McPherson, KS — 1999-2001 

Full-time teaching position; responsible for music theory I-IV, aural skills I-IV, direction of contemporary ensembles and traveling/touring groups, applied guitar, supervision of sound engineering team, supervision of student workers in music department, faculty advising for music majors, involved in selection and hiring of guest artists and adjunct instructors, adjudication of scholarship applicants. 

Adjunct Instructor, Central College; McPherson, KS — 1993-1996 

Responsible for applied guitar instruction for majors and non-majors. 

Adjunct Instructor, McPherson College; McPherson, KS — 1995-1998 

Responsible for applied guitar instruction; guitar methods class for music education majors. 

Adjunct Instructor, Sterling College; Sterling, KS — 1995-1998 

Responsible for applied guitar instruction; taught Interterm class on recording, marketing, production and promotion of recording. 

Adjunct Instructor, Hutchinson Community College; Hutchinson, KS — 1997-1998 

Responsible for applied guitar instruction for majors and non-majors and guitar ensemble. 

Workshop Teaching Experience 

Crown of the Continent; Big Fork, MT — 2013-2015 

Week-long workshop on songwriting, focus on theory, form, lyrics, melody, and writing charts; facilitated guest artists’ involvement in class. 

National Guitar Workshop; Various locations — 2003-2011 

  • Songwriting (focus on theory, form, lyrics, melody, writing charts) —Nashville, TN; Murfreesboro,TN; San Francisco, CA; Purchase, NY; New Milford, CT 
  • Guitar for the Songwriter —Nashville, TN 
  • Arranging for Fingerstyle Guitar —Austin, TX 
  • The Art of Solo Guitar —San Francisco, CA 
  • Jazz Guitar Intensive —Austin, TX 
  • Blue Note Blues (music of Grant Green and Kenny Burrell) — Austin, TX 
  • Special Topic Presentations (one-hour lectures): 
    • Lap-Slide Guitar —Nashville, TN; Murfreesboro,TN; San Francisco, CA; Purchase, NY; New Milford, CT 
    • Improvising in Chord Melody—Austin, TX 
    • Taking your Song from Rough Demo to Mastered Recording—Purchase, NY 

Workshops on Arranging for Fingerstyle Guitar; Harrisburg, PA — 2005 

Grant-Supported Teaching/Performance 

The Holland Guitar Project —

a grant-funded program of concerts and educational programs in the Austin, TX, public schools that celebrated the influence of 19th Century African American guitarist Justin Holland. The capstone event was a concert featuring Kim Perlak, David Hamburger, Kirby Kelley, and Bret Boyer. 

Smithsonian Institution’s “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music" 

delivered a lecture on harmonica and performed a lecture/concert of roots-inspired music with bassist Mark Foley. 

Kansas Touring Artists Roster

1991-2004, providing multiple concerts and workshops throughout Kansas, subsidized by the Kansas Arts Commission. Included songwriting workshops in the public schools and community performances. 

Texas Touring Artists Roster

selected for 2003-2005 program. 

Private Teaching experience 

Maintained active private lesson studio since 1987, for individual and group lessons in-studio and by Skype 

Recordings and Songwriting Credits 

Tallgrass — 2021 — A commercially available CD of arrangements of traditional music in a duo setting

Songs for Everyone — 2010 — A commercially available CD of original children’s music in various styles 

Hidden Constellation — 2004 — A commercially available CD of original roots-influenced music 

Grace — 1999 — A commercially available CD of instrumental, traditional hymns arranged for solo guitar 

Live at the Coffeehouse of Lindsborg — 1998 — Recorded for public radio broadcast, released on CD 

Beantown — 1994 — A commercially available CD of original compositions and arrangements, jazz-influenced, solo, duo and trio recording of guitar, bass, percussion and voice 

The Combination — 1991 — A commercially available CD of jazz and world music-influenced original compositions for guitar, steel pans and percussion 

New Settlers Radio Hour Theme Song — 1996 

Round and Round — Original song recorded by Mackie Redd on the commercially available CD “Enjoy the Ride” — 1998 

Toots — Original song recorded by Phil Hawkins on “Toco pan y bateria” — 1997 

Popcorn — Original song recorded by Phil Hawkins on “Toco pan y bateria” — 1997 

Popcorn — Sheet music arrangement for steel pan by Phil Hawkins — 1998 

Original music for audio book — Jay Bremyer “Dance of Created Lights” — 1998 

Publications 

Premier Guitar Magazine —

“We Three Kings,” arranged for fingerstyle guitar — 2011 

Premier Guitar Magazine —

“The Mighty Third,” on jazz/blues soloing — 2011 

For the Beauty —

Six hymns arranged for guitar, lesson book and video — 1997 

Performances 

More than 2,000 concerts of my original songs and arrangements since 1987, performed in a variety of venues, focusing on concert-settings including colleges/universities, arts councils, small theaters, listening rooms and festivals 

Guest artist with the Austin Mandolin Orchestra — 2010 

Faculty concert performances at National Guitar Workshop and Crown of the Continent — 2003-2015 

Live-radio performances and interviews in various cities throughout the Midwest 

Staff guitarist for all musical theatre performances at Cabaret Old Town — 1996-1999 

Guest artist with the Central College Jazz Band — 1998 

Live-television performances, including CNN’s nationally aired program “People Count” — 1996 

Two live, concert performances recorded and broadcast on “New Settlers Radio Hour” (KMUW) 

Radio play for “Beantown” CD; a top pick for NPR station “KHCC - Radio Kansas” — 1994 

skills/proficiencies 

Technology 

Studio Techniques — proficient with all aspects of studio and home recording from mic placement to mixing. Recording and production of CDs and demos for self and for students and professionals. 

Logic/ProTools — Familiar with evolution of recording technology and techniques from analog tape to Logic/ProTools; have used Logic/ProTools for original recordings, as well as in demos and recordings for students and professionals. 

Finale — Publications (book “For the Beauty” and Premier Guitar Magazine arrangement and articles) were written using Finale. 

Concert Promotion 

Founded the McPherson Acoustic Arts Association (1993-2001), responsible for booking touring songwriters, leasing venues, sound, equipment, and lights, marketing, promotion and ticket sales. 

Education 

Wichita State University — Bachelor’s of Music, cum laude; Major: Music Performance - Jazz Guitar, emphasis on composition with senior recital of all original compositions.