I come from a musical family as do both my parents. My father and uncles used to host 'barn dances' in Saskatchewan in the 40's and 50's. I have early memories of my mother and father playing and singing together, and both my brothers and my sister have studied music.
I started my study of music in October of 1982, at the age of 11. My brother gave me an old Bass and my parents enrolled me in lessons. I think I actually wanted to play the electric guitar, but didn't really know the differenc...
I come from a musical family as do both my parents. My father and uncles used to host 'barn dances' in Saskatchewan in the 40's and 50's. I have early memories of my mother and father playing and singing together, and both my brothers and my sister have studied music.
I started my study of music in October of 1982, at the age of 11. My brother gave me an old Bass and my parents enrolled me in lessons. I think I actually wanted to play the electric guitar, but didn't really know the difference. I'm now glad I ended up with the Bass; this one event has shaped the course of my life in many important ways.
I attended lessons for 2 years, then became bored of it, and quit. My parents were a bit disappointed but never made too much of it. I forgot about playing music for about 4 years. But then I started getting my act together and started attending a nearby church where I met some friends who happened to be musicians. They didn't have a Bass player so I got some money together and bought a new Bass.
This is the real beginning of my musical career. All of a sudden I had a new identity; I was a musician! My hair grew long and my clothes became wild (despite the church influence). Now I was meeting other musicians everywhere; at school, other churches, the local music shop. I had a new confidence. I joined the high-school band and choir; and a music theory class. It was here that I developed my love of classical music, thanks to the school music instructor Ms. Olfrey. I spend much of my spare time listening to and playing music.
Then another key event... On the way home from the last day of school, report card day, I had a bicycle accident and broke my collar bone, which meant that I had to stay pretty much still for about 6 weeks. My friend Ken Gouldsward was going to Hawaii for 3 weeks and lent me his electric guitar. To play it I had to sit up really straight and hold it like a classical guitar, in other words, properly. I spent the next 3 weeks practicing 8-10 hours a day. It hurt to move my arm so I developed very good picking skills. This experience improved my playing quickly which translated into an immediate confidence in my ability; possibly and overconfidence as I look back now.
After high school my friends all went to college and I worked at various jobs. I wasn't yet a good enough player to actually ';get paid' for playing (or so I thought at the time). The next year ('89) I went to college and studied music whether it was in the curriculum or not.
I met some other musicians and began playing Bass regularly with players much more skilled than myself. I enrolled in music theory and piano classes, and studied classical guitar in my spare time. During the next two years I had to practice hard so that I could continue playing with these guys (Lionel Duperron and Doug Dunbar), they were really good! The three of us played together for over 8 years under the name RedSide; we recorded an 6 song instrumental EP and a full length CD: RedSide - Verbs, now available from iTunes.
Then in 2000 I decided that I would take my life in a new direction. I had practiced martial arts since 1994, and it was time to give it my full attention. I moved across Canada to Brampton, Ontario to study at Beyond Kung Fu Studios. I didn't perform music, other than for family and friends from 2001-2005. I lived like a monk; studying ancient spiritual texts, practicing martial arts, Yoga, and meditation. I did, however, keep up my music practice so that I would not lose my skills.
Then, in early 2005 after hearing way too many people tell me that when I spoke of music the 'lights came on in my eyes', and listening to my heart of course, I decided that it was time to get back to my first love; music.
Now my days are filled with music. I compose and record, as well I teach over 50 students each week. Click here to let me know that you'd like to get started in lessons.
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