Drum, Piano, Guitar
Immediately after watching the movie School of Rock at age nine, Alec knew he had to start drumming. He started playing along to Aerosmith and "Weird Al" Yankovic recordings with two sticks and a practice pad. Soon after, his parents bought him Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games, and he was hooked. These games helped him discover new favorite bands and inspired him to play the drums, guitar, and other rock instruments.
His elementary, middle, and high school band programs are where Alec received most of his formal music education. Percussion was his focus. By high school, he played snare on the drumline, percussion in Wind Ensemble, and drum set in the jazz band. Music remained his passion throughout college, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Music Performance upon graduating from the University of Colorado - Denver.
Today, Alec is a touring musician playing in multiple bands. With these groups, he has traveled the U.S. and played notable music festivals such as Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Idaho, and Underground Music Showcase here in Denver. He has also produced and engineered multiple full-length albums.
The educator who impacted Alec's musical career most was his high school band director. What he remembers most from this teacher was how hard he pushed his students using encouragement. He made each of his students feel capable, seen, and respected, which did not lower his standards for musical excellence. By contrast, his method of connecting with students positively influenced his goal of teaching high schoolers to be the best musicians they could be.
While taking inspiration from his past teacher's methods of achieving excellence through connection, Alec aspires to form fun, positive, and supportive bonds with each student he teaches. Above all else, he strives to create a mutual learning experience. Providing his students with the opportunity to be authentically expressive is crucial for this type of learning. In this context, both Alec and his students can deepen their love for music and create life-long musical memories.