Here's a little info about my experience as a teacher and as a musician in this town we call home. I have been playing music since I could reach the keys on a piano, and with a piano tuner for a father as well as a band member, I grew up in and around music my whole life. I studied classical music when I was a young boy until I heard ACDC.......and between that band and the song "Money for Nothing
" I had to hear those sounds and tones come from my own fingers and so the journey began as a guitar player. I took formal piano lessons from a local teacher and then taught myself how to play a few instruments as my passion grew. I can remember playing a swing pattern on a ride cymbal at the age of 5 when my fathers band was set up in our living room. I started teaching for The Ontario School of music in 2000 and have been teaching ever since. I love watching students grab hold of new concepts and feel that sense of accomplishment that is so important in keeping the interest alive. I also had the opportunity to teach at Case's music back when it was on Spring street before Mike passed it along to Jay Case, who I have an immense respect for as a player and person. I left there due to a job being offered to me by a man who I looked up to since before I played guitar, his name...Mike Davies. I followed Mike up to BocToRoc and stayed there for the duration of its time on second line. I had the pleasure of working with some great teachers such as Kyle McKee, Sydney Mazzanello and many others. These friendships and working relationships have been so pleasant for me that I can't feel anything but joy for the time spent working together with these fine people. When I realized it was time to try and make a run myself doing things all on my own I gained an even further respect for my former employers, as well as those who have or do run other establishments. It's not easy to keep a business running and having that responsibility on ones self all the time.....so to those who've also been down this road....I tip my cap! I've been performing since I was a little boy with the first stage appearance at the age of 4 or 5 at the old Moose Lodge on Mcnaab where my Dad got me up to sing "can I have this dance" by Anne Murray. I've kept performing by playing recitals, exams for the RCM, and then 21 years and well over 4000 gigs under my belt in the bars and casinos and such, as I liked to be busy and pay the bills. I've recently stopped the regular gigging due to an issue with my hand, but I can still play in smaller doses until I get this issue resolved. I recently played Rotary fest with a great group of musicians in GripHook and again thanks goes out to these fine gentlemen for giving me the opportunity to play some good ole rock and roll! As far as where I got my start in bands......that belongs to Mustang Heart who thankfully kept asking me to jam, and I owe a lot to my time with Marci and Dama Chindamo and many other people who were members for long and short periods of time. I went through some of my biggest growing pains with them, and they always treated me like family. I left that band to join a group called Hollow with some excellent players. I went on to play with S.R.O, The Mamas Boys, and finally Flashback before an injury to my hand made me stop playing regularly.....I also did many fill ins with other bands during this time. In Flashback I learned a lot, as well as got all that party life finally out of my system as I had children, and we played together for 14 years approx. Sam Spadafore became a brother to me and still to this very day I will never be able to thank him for all he's done for myself and my family. So, I've played and performed in many situations and towns, as well as two countries. In that time I've had the pleasure of learning a lot of different styles of music, such as Tarentellas and Waltzes to Van Halen and Shania Twain. I've been a very fortunate man to have had such great band members here and in the states, and such a wide variety of music that I've played and learned to appreciate......which is something I try to pass to my students. I want everyone to walk away from any musical experience with at least one thing they can respect......even if it's person banging a pot on the side of the road....at least they have the guts to put themself out there! It's not all been pretty but life never is, but I'm very grateful to all the people and for the times I've been given to truly learn, as well as passing that information on through teaching. My goal is to keep that passion alive in my students as much as I can, as there is nothing like the smile from a student right after they've accomplished even the smallest amount of success. Another huge event in my life was how I got into school. I had a fear that I wasn't good enough to pass a class......then another friend who's become like a brother Joel Syreete gave me the insight needed to get over my fears.....and to school I went. Joel has helped encourage me through so many situations that I'd be doing a great disservice to not mention and thank him here as well. I also need to thank my guitar teacher at Algoma University in Frank Deresti, as he has furthered my education on guitar and surrounding jazz music and its theory and place in history, which has had a huge impact on me as a player and teacher. There are many teachers such as Dr Rob Ollikkala and Prof Paul Dingle who have enriched my life with knowledge and history.....and not just from books, but all the fun facts that I now try to pass on as well. I would also have to thank Dale Innes and Dr Ed Turgeon for the guidance I've received....and I'm not always the easiest to advise so to them I really thank you for your patience. I feel very fortunate and grateful.....and last but not least is my family. My parents have supported me all the way along, and I've worked with my father and hope to continue the King legacy for years to come, as well I'd like to keep improving as a person and as a teacher so that I can give the most to my students. My three children are constant reminders of how important life is and that we should always be grateful for what we have! I also need to thank all the students that have been part of my teaching life....it has been a pleasure.....one that I pray never dies! In the words of Shakespeare....."If music is the food of love.......play on......play on....." Cheers to all past, present and future students.....and to all my friends and family and those who've been supportive and inspiring.....I talk a lot......but there is never enough words to thank when it's genuine. One last thank you to those people who've had patience with me as I've gotten organized, as at moments it can feel overwhelming when it's new. I'd put a list up of all the people that have inspired me locally and the legends we all look up to, but that list would take another hour or so to get through.....so with that I say thanks and look forward to meeting new people and seeing old faces as well. I now also understand why they put a time limit on thank you lists on the award shows.
