Experience Summary
*Professional pianist / keyboard player. Over 30 years of pro experience in Washington, DC area. Interests & Activities include *Music production in home studio using computer, midi, synthesizers, & multi-track recording software. *Composition of new material. *Arranging & orchestrating.
EMPLOYMENT:
*Musician / Instrumentalist - past member of the American Federation of Musicians - locals 161, 770, & 389. Music performance experience includes: US army bandsman – club dates – steady location work at hotels, restaurants, & cruise ships.
*Educator with over 30 years of teaching experience in the public schools of Maryland & Pennsylvania.
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONL ORGANIZATIONS:
*Currently a member of the American Music Center (AMC) and a writer / publisher member of the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP).
I compose contemporary concert music for full orchestra, chamber orchestra, piano, chorus, small groups of instruments, and soloists. Scores and parts are published and available. Some of the music I produce exists only as audio tracks-no scores- and can be downloaded on some digital music services. Contact me for help on any music project. I can provide: original music compositions, orchestrations of your material, scoring, music consulting, music composition lessons (online),and 21st century music harmony lessons (online).
Musician
Walt Disney Grand Floridian Resort Hotel
1999 – 1999 (less than a year)Orlando, Florida Area
Solo piano engagement for a convention. Four (4) hour contract completed.
Carnival Cruise Lines
Musician
Carnival Cruise Lines
1998 – 1998 (less than a year)Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area
Piano soloist in dining rooms and lounges on cruise ship cruising from Florida to the Bahamas. One (1) month contract completed.
Montgomery County Public Schools
Instrumental Music Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
August 1959 – July 1988 (29 years)
My job was to Identify, recruit, and teach band and orchestral instruments in several schools.
Instrumental Music Teacher (private lessons).
Music and Arts Center
1959 – 1969 (10 years)
Music and Arts Center, during my years with the company, consisted of a few stores in Maryland. It was the owners plan to expand & have stores in various locations around the "beltway" circling Washington, DC. Now, the stores seem to be in in all areas of the United States. A real success story!. I was teaching flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, & drums to students at the Bethesda, Congressional Plaza, and Twinbrook locations.
Musician
First U.S. Army Area Band
June 1956 – June 1958 (2 years 1 month)
Rehearsing and performing concert and parade music.
Education
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
Master of Music degree, Music Composition
1960 – 1963
Courses I attended at CUA: Baroque Period in Music, Contemporary Period in Music, Audio Visual Aids in Music, Curriculum Development in School Music Programs, Psychology of Music, Analytical Techniques, Laboratory for Composers, Fugue I & II, Chamber Music Composition I & II, Large Instrumental Forms of Composition I.II.III.& IV., Private composition lessons.
Activities and Societies: My Masters thesis was performed by the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington, DC in a "reading session" for students and music faculty.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science degree, Music Education
1951 – 1955
Indiana University of Pennsylvania was called Indiana State Teachers College when I attended and graduated. Indiana is a town / city in Pennsylvania. Equally confusing is the fact that there is (or was) a California State Teachers College in Pennsylvania.
Activities and Societies: I very much enjoyed being part of the college music performance groups,concert and marching bands, the "Mellowmen'' jazz band, school orchestra, and vocal groups.
Montgomery College
Montgomery College
Courses in Jazz Arranging - Instructor, Bill Potts
Arranger/pianist Bill Potts was born with an individual musical voice and a sense of purpose. He didn't have to "learn to swing." In fact, he was incapable of playing or writing anything that didn't feel inevitable. It's also been said by many musicians that Bill's charts "play themselves" as the writing is so natural. His writing was also sophisticated, elegant, sometimes unpredictable and always full of heart.
From the late 1950s into the '60s, Bill was writing for numerous record dates in New York, including memorable arrangements and compositions for the Quincy Jones Big Band, Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, Phil Woods and Gene Quill and the Buddy Rich Big Band. He became Paul Anka's musical director from 1964 through 1969. Potts loomed large on the scene in New York, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues who included Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins and Clark Terry.
Volunteer Experience & Causes
Musician / E. Piano performer.
Good Samaritan Society, Kissimmee, Fl.
August 2011 – August 2014 (3 years 1 month)Social Services
Played dinner music and jazz standards 2 to 3 times a month at Heritage Creekside dining room and Assisted Living dining room.