I grew up on the south side of Milwaukee and attended St. Rita’s School on 60th and Lincoln. My parents bought a keyboard for my older sister, and that is where my musical journey started. I learned to play “Let It Be” (The Beatles) by ear, and around the same time acquired a keen interest to pursue the clarinet and guitar. While at St. Rita’s, with the help of my Physical Education teacher Larry Kartz, I learned to play the guitar and accompanied school mass services. I also joined the school's small band program for clarinet instruction. Piano lessons were done privately through Sister Irene Stanczak's Piano Studio and I went through the MAPTA program attaining 1st, 2nd, and 3rd piano solo awards. I ended up accompanying Sister Irene (on my 12-string guitar) at the Veteran’s Hospital for Sunday Masses as well.
My family then moved to Mukwonago where I attended high school. Although my primary focus became athletics around this time, I continued to play the guitar, piano, and clarinet; and took a deep dive into recording and playback. I also rekindled a relationship with my spawning moment in music, the ear; and began to simply experiment and play just about any instrument I could get my hands on which has since included: the mandolin, banjo, ukulele, congas, harmoniums, bucket basses, bass guitar, lap steel guitar, and various others.
After high school, I went on to attend Ventura College in Southern California for two years attaining an Associates in Arts General Studies (Honors) as well as 1st Team All Conference (achieving the Ventura College 4 Mile Record), 1st Team All Southern California, Scholar Athlete Award, and Team MVP. Shortly thereafter, I attended Humboldt State University in Northern California for four years where I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Music.
I strongly believe in the balance music has in people's lives to attain a deeper understanding of themselves, the world around them, and to create a more sustainable environment for humans to not only survive, but thrive. This relationship and joy of music is for everyone to discover, not only seasoned musicians of several genres and instruments. My goal is to ignite talent/gifts people might not think exist in themselves or help people continue on musical journeys they may have already started through guidance, reasoning, logic, goals, and most of all, fun.
I hope to hear from you if there are any services I can provide! Thank you, Sam!
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