By Susan Zhao
Mr. Smith, the instrumental music teacher at Collingwood School, comes from a family of music teachers. His mother was a piano teacher, his grandfather was a band teacher in California, and his older brother was a music professor. Because of his family background, Mr. Smith has been playing music since he was 2 years old. He first started with piano, then trumpet at the age of 12, and guitar at the age of 14. He completed his Bachelor of Music for guitar, with a specialization in musicology, at the University of Alberta.
According to Mr. Smith, his band teachers were the biggest influence on him as an artist. “They showed me the mystery and magic of music, and that inspiration is what ended up getting me into teaching.”
Mr. Smith is a big fan of all styles of music. It depends on the day for which type of music he likes the best. Usually, Mr. Smith is in the mood for funk and R&B. However, at other times, all he really wants to listen to is a Bach fugue. An interesting fact about Mr. Smith is that he never changes the radio station if it is playing a great up-tempo rock tune.
To Mr. Smith, art can have many different meanings. “I think it is important to not get caught up in what other people think music should be, sound like, or mean when you are playing your music. When you are playing, you should be expressing what the music means to YOU, otherwise it isn’t authentic.”
Before becoming a music teacher, Mr. Smith was a professional musician, making his living from playing gigs. During these times, Mr. Smith was part of many performing groups. He was in a guitar quartet, a metal band, a punk band, an 80’s dance band, and even a mariachi band.
The video below shows one of his first gigs with the mariachi band.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6P3ofSRF-w
Mr. Smith sees this gig not as his most glamorous gig, but as one of the most high-energy shows he has ever played in. In the video, Mr. Smith was hired to play after a showing of a boxing match on Mexican Independence Day. The crowd was so excited to hear the songs from their home country. More excitingly, the band ended up doing 3 encores with songs that the audience all wanted to hear again. Mr. Smith views this show as one of the best-received shows he has ever played in.
Apart from music, Mr. Smith enjoys fixing guitars, fine woodworking, and spending time by the ocean.
Mr. Smith also shares that he would like to record another album some day. This experience would let him explore his own music preference. Mr. Smith is also planning on pursuing a Masters in Musicology one day. However, for now he is happy working on his music pedagogy and spending time helping his students become the best musicians that they can be!
Now, Mr. Smith spends most of his time preparing for his students’ concerts and shows. He enthusiastically says, “If you would like to see their show, please check the Collingwood Calendar for upcoming performances and festivals!”
Mr. Smith, the instrumental music teacher at Collingwood School, comes from a family of music teachers. His mother was a piano teacher, his grandfather was a band teacher in California, and his older brother was a music professor. Because of his family background, Mr. Smith has been playing music since he was 2 years old. He first started with piano, then trumpet at the age of 12, and guitar at the age of 14. He completed his Bachelor of Music for guitar, with a specialization in musicology, at the University of Alberta.
According to Mr. Smith, his band teachers were the biggest influence on him as an artist. “They showed me the mystery and magic of music, and that inspiration is what ended up getting me into teaching.”
Mr. Smith is a big fan of all styles of music. It depends on the day for which type of music he likes the best. Usually, Mr. Smith is in the mood for funk and R&B. However, at other times, all he really wants to listen to is a Bach fugue. An interesting fact about Mr. Smith is that he never changes the radio station if it is playing a great up-tempo rock tune.
To Mr. Smith, art can have many different meanings. “I think it is important to not get caught up in what other people think music should be, sound like, or mean when you are playing your music. When you are playing, you should be expressing what the music means to YOU, otherwise it isn’t authentic.”
Before becoming a music teacher, Mr. Smith was a professional musician, making his living from playing gigs. During these times, Mr. Smith was part of many performing groups. He was in a guitar quartet, a metal band, a punk band, an 80’s dance band, and even a mariachi band.
The video below shows one of his first gigs with the mariachi band.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6P3ofSRF-w
Mr. Smith sees this gig not as his most glamorous gig, but as one of the most high-energy shows he has ever played in. In the video, Mr. Smith was hired to play after a showing of a boxing match on Mexican Independence Day. The crowd was so excited to hear the songs from their home country. More excitingly, the band ended up doing 3 encores with songs that the audience all wanted to hear again. Mr. Smith views this show as one of the best-received shows he has ever played in.
Apart from music, Mr. Smith enjoys fixing guitars, fine woodworking, and spending time by the ocean.
Mr. Smith also shares that he would like to record another album some day. This experience would let him explore his own music preference. Mr. Smith is also planning on pursuing a Masters in Musicology one day. However, for now he is happy working on his music pedagogy and spending time helping his students become the best musicians that they can be!
Now, Mr. Smith spends most of his time preparing for his students’ concerts and shows. He enthusiastically says, “If you would like to see their show, please check the Collingwood Calendar for upcoming performances and festivals!”