Tuba with Matthew S.

I'm a professional tuba player in the Central Arkansas area. I was just hired by the United States Navy as one of its newest tuba players and will begin training later this summer. Prior to my Navy appointment, I taught tuba and ran the tuba-euphonium ensemble at Henderson State University. While there, I taught weekly tuba lessons with each music major and music minor. These students performed in several solo recitals and master classes. I also ran rehearsals and instructed the tuba-euphonium ensemble. This ensemble gave multiple performances throughout the semester. Before teaching college, I attended the University of Memphis where I received my Master of Music degree. I studied intently and really honed my tuba playing and teaching chops. I had the opportunity to be surrounded by amazing tuba players and attended several workshops and master classes with world-class tuba professionals. I taught undergraduate tuba majors when my professor would be out of town and helped them whenever the professor was "off the clock". I was the usually the first person they would go to for advice. I also ran a daily warmup class with the undergraduate tuba students. Each day we focused on proper technique and expanding our music "ears" to better ourselves as musicians. Before my time in Memphis, I received two degrees from the University of Central Arkansas. I received a Bachelor of Music and a Performer's Certificate. While at UCA, I had many of the same experiences listed above with my time in Memphis. I taught undergraduate tuba lessons, ran the tuba-euphonium ensemble, and ran a daily warmup class. In terms of my professional playing experience goes, I've performed in numerous ensembles and played all types of music. I've been featured in a motion picture soundtrack (A Dream Retrieval Ritual). I played in a professional jazz band during a big-time jazz festival (performed all of Miles Davis' "Birth of the Cool album). Performed with several tuba-euphonium professionals, including a trio with Tim Buzbee and Christian Carichner. I've played in symphony orchestras as well. I was principal tuba of the Conway Symphony Orchestra, Conway Chamber Orchestra, and the University of Memphis Symphony Orchestra. I've played in numerous brass quintets, ranging from student led to professional for the past 13 years. I've played in several New Orleans Dixieland style jazz bands and know how to read a lead sheet and walk a bass line (as skill far too few tuba players have).