I began my percussion journey at the age of 10 when I started playing drum set at a
neighbors house down the street from where I grew up. Inspired by the Grunge movement from Seattle,
bands like Alice and Chains, Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Sound-Garden gave me my first
rhythmical bug.
My first formal experience came in middle school where I played in
concert and jazz bands and started taking private lessons from my first teacher Rick Kirkland.
I continued my studies in High School at Douglas Anderson School of
the Arts (DASOTA). I grew away from the drum set and moved totally towards classical percussion. I was involved in the
symphonic band, orchestra, marimba ensemble, and played in three musical productions.
In 1998 I even got an opportunity to play at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) in Orlando
with the marimba ensemble. I was really lucky to get the opportunity to attend a
performing arts high school and have all those playing experiences. It probably has shaped my playing more than I realize.
After graduating from high school in 1999, I took a break from percussion and devoted time to
my other interest, Maths. During my three years of Mathematics and Physics studies at
the University of North Florida, I learned to play a new instrument that I had always
wanted to learn, the electric bass. Playing electric bass really got me back to loving music again.
During this time I was introduced to a musician that has become one of my biggest influences
in life, Victor Wooten.
After studying Maths for three years, I returned
to percussion study at the UNF music department. There I studied with Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Principal Percussionist Charlotte Mabrey.
I studied classical percussion with a focus on marimba literature. I got to play with the percussion ensemble, wind ensemble, orchestra,
jazz band (playing percussion and vibraphone), chamber groups, and around the city with
a percussion quartet. I also started studying hand drumming after a clinic from world renown
percussionist Glen Velez. After attending Glen's class and performance in town, the way I
think about and feel rhythm changed forever. Glen as well as Victor are probably the two biggest influencing on my playing.
I ended up graduating with a bachelores in Music and a minor in Mathematics
in 2005 and was awarded the 'Most Outstanding Musician Award' for the 2004/2005 school
year.
At present music has been kind of a hobby and not much more. I have done some composing
as well as playing in a percussion quartet occasionally. As it is for a lot of people, I'm
still trying to figure out where music fits in my life. As for now, I'm building some instruments
and enjoying teaching my niece whatever she would like to learn.
- Will