“O Muse! Sing in me, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all the ways of contending, a wanderer, harried for years on end."

-Homer, The Odyssey 

One of my personal interests is music, both the listening and making. My first memories of music were of my mother singing to me as we knelt beside my bed as a boy (she still loves to sing).

It was in an elementary school music class that I began learning more about musical theory. While in the 5th grade, I began taking piano lessons at school (hiding my piano theory book under my shirt so that nobody would think less of me). Later that same year, the band director came to our elementary school to showcase various instruments in preparation for middle school band. At that time, I was enthralled with the saxophone but all of my friends (or at least those I wanted to be my friends) were more interested in the trumpet. So I played trumpet. 

It worked out fairly well for me, though, as I went on to various accolades and awards which included being selected to the ATSSB (Association of Texas Small School Bands) Texas All-State Band. From there, I auditioned and was accepted to the North Texas School of Music among others. But I attended Texas Christian University (TCU) on a music scholarship instead and there participated in the marching, basketball, and jazz band as well as the TCU symphony.  

As a music education major (my first year), I relearned elements of piano theory and perfected my musical ear - broadening my musical repertoire with elements of blues and jazz. Also that same year, I borrowed my roommate's guitar and taught myself basic chords and strumming patterns. I experimented with the harmonica as well as I broadened my interest in acoustic guitar to electric guitar, lap steel, mandolin, and ukulele. 

Through the years, I have played electric guitar in a garage band (for a birthday party); trumpet for weddings, funerals, civic services, and the Silver Pages music ensemble; performed original pieces for religious ceremonies and weddings (including facilitating all music on piano for a friend's wedding); honored friends and loved ones with processional/funeral music on piano, guitar, and trumpet; and served as a private instructor for piano, trumpet, guitar, and ukulele (including my three children). 

I have also carried my personal enthusiasm for music into my professional life, devoting a significant portion of my dissertation to the study of the Songs of Ascent (Psalm 120-134), the spirituals, the Delta blues, and the freedom songs of the American civil rights movement.