Currently, I am playing bass with a couple of really great people in a band called aCute Affliction. aCute Affliction covers Top 40 Rock tunes-and we add our own personality to the songs. Evelien is our lead singer, and not only does she have a great voice, but she's got the personality to match! Keith, our guitarist, has been playing music in this area for way more years than I have been :). He gets to show off when Evelien's not taking center stage singing, and has a blast doing so. We have a fun time playing together! I designed and maintain the bands' website, www.acuteaffliction.com, please hop over and check it out when you get a chance. You can also see us on our MySpace .I love feedback and suggestions too!

But I've gotten ahead of myself-stories should start at the beginning! I originally started playing any instrument after moving to a new high school. My first instrument was a pair of cymbals in high school marching band. I had a great director who was willing to give anyone who wanted to play a chance, even if they knew nothing-luckily for me. Couple that with a drum instructor who expected everyone to be the best and rehearsed us until we were, and by the time I graduated I had played every percussion instrument normally found in a marching or concert band. I even learned a few extra ones.... brake drums anyone? My director was friends with a college director many states away, and after a recruiting visit, I ended up at Northwestern State University in Louisiana . There was (and still is!) a great music program there and I had a blast playing everything from the old standby cymbals to 4 mallet percussion pieces, in every setting from solo to ensembles to marching bands to symphony orchestra. My favorite mallet piece is "Rhythm Song", and my favorite orchestral song is Orff's "Carmina Burana". I can't pick my favorite marching pieces because I liked most of them. I also dabbled in handbells at a local church, and took harp lessons (even played a solo piece at the end of semester concert).

After moving back, I played in a couple of local orchestra's and bands (Treasure Coast Symphony , Port St. Lucie Community Band, and a few others that I sat in for) until my work schedule conflicted with rehersals. I still play with them as time permits. One day I was working on writing song lyrics and was told I should take up a melodic instrument to help improve my skills. I missed play music, and I was already friends with one of the area's best bass players (Chuck Faile). I borrowed a bass and started taking lessons with Chuck. I quickly found out a great thing about playing bass is there's a lot less equipment than drumset, plus I can practice without waking everyone up! I got my stage feet wet by playing at blues jams and made friends with some great players and people at the jams. That lead into me being called to play in aCute Affliction.......and now we come full circle with the (short version) music story!