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Derek Day, Professor - Guitar & Jazz/ Music Artist
Please return here in a few months to find out how to purchase Derek Day's very, very long-awaited debut CD recording as a leader which is being put together currently.
Baltimore-born Derek Day teaches more than full-time hours as an Adjunct Professor of Music at three institutions from mid-August through May. He is the Adjunct Instructor of Guitar at Mount Olive College in Mt. Olive, North Carolina,
where Guitar is a principal instrument in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Music - Music Performance and for students pursuing the Bachelor of Music - Music Education. In addition, beginning & advanced-beginning classes ` and private lessons at all levels are available for students in all majors.
He is the Adjunctive Professor of Guitar at *Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary/*The College at Southeastern in Wake Forest NC, where Classical*Guitar is students' principal instrument for *Music Majors culminating in a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies and Music - Guitar Performance, graduate students' (who already hold bachelor's degrees in a non-music field) Diploma in Music - Guitar Performance, and the Master of Church Music with Guitar as a student's principal instrument. *Guitar Studies, entry-level classes and beginning through advanced private lessons, are offered for all graduate and undergraduate students in all majors`.
Derek Day is also an Adjunct Lecturer teaching Music at the Department of Music of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke teaching Jazz Guitar, Classical Guitar, Jazz Composition, directing [Classical] Guitar Ensemble and teaching two beginner-level guitar courses. Music Majors with Guitar as their principal instrument enroll for 1-hr./2-credit private lessons each semester. For all Music Majors, an additional minor in Jazz Studies is also an option. There is also minor in Jazz Studies for all students regardless of their majors.
Some private lesson times are available each semester for students in other majors besides music, and the guitar classes are open to all non-major beginning guitar students. Generally some students from the classes move to private lessons after successfully completing the beginners' classes.
For Music Majors at UNC-Pembroke, both Jazz Guitar & Classical Guitar can be students' principal instrument/focus,
though Jazz Guitar may be substituted if a student enters as a freshman or transfer student with sufficient skills already in place provided some Classical Guitar is also mastered; here are some options for UNCP Guitar Students as Music Majors:
Bachelor of Arts in Music - Instrumental Studies **with Guitar as the Principal Instrument,
B. A. Music with elective studies in **Music Business which ultimately includes a great deal of Jazz Guitar studies in the applied area unless a student desires only Classical Guitar,
Bachelor of Music, **Music Education,
a Master of Arts, Music Education with Guitar as the principal instrument
and a Master of Arts in Teaching with Music/**Guitar as the principal instrument.
Looking forward to this coming school year, Professor Day is carefully & enthusiastically guiding students through their instrumental & overall musical development with a current total of 12 music majors with guitar as their instrument, 4 of whom are performance majors, at these three institutions.
In Spring semesters 2006 & 2007 he taught two levels of Jazz Improvisation at UNCP
& also teaches 21 private students in Dunn NC each week.
Derek Day is a member of the UNCP Dept. of Music Faculty Jazz Trio with Dr. Larry Arnold and Professor Aaron Vandermeer.
From 1984-93 he was 1/2-time Adjunct Lecturer in Guitar at McDaniel College in Westminster Maryland. He also taught privately a great deal in Westminster from 1975-78 and 1983-93 including full-time at New Song Guitar Center from 1983-86 (& p/t through 1989). More recently he was P/T Adj. Instructor of Guitar at Fayetteville [NC] Technical Community College from 2002-05. When first in NC, from 2000-02, he was a Full-Time General Music Teacher for Sampson County Schools.
Professor Day's jazz expertise both as a performer and an educator is at a very highly developed and refined level. Additionally he is a superb instrumentalist who produces beautiful tone as a Classical Guitarist, and has an instinct for performing Baroque, Classical and Romantic Eras' music very well. Committed to guitar education, he returned to it almost exclusively in 2002, but his experience as a performer is extensive.
He graduated cum laude in 1995 from Texas Tech University the Bachelor of Music, Performance - Guitar, where he studied extensively with Dr. James Bogle. All his studies there were while on "Maximum Award" Jazz Scholarship and the degree includes many transfer credits from his majoring in Studio Music & Jazz, Guitar, at University of Miami.
Derek Day received the Master of Music, Performance - Classical Guitar, from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1999, with a cum. GPA of 3.6. With no guitar-teaching assistantship available to anyone at SUNY/Buffalo due to its very small program then & now and on Professor Castellani's recommendation (his guitar professor) he was Teacher of Guitar at the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart from 1997-2000. He also taught a great deal privately in the Buffalo region.
After a successful audition, in 2003 Professor Day was awarded a doctoral-studies fellowship and in 2004 began studies in pursuit of a Doctor of Musical Arts in Classical Guitar Pedagogy/ Performance at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester VA. He studied Guitar at the 700-level there with Dr. Glenn Caluda, and completed his residency and 18 credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.88.
From 1978-2001 Professor Day performed/studied in master classes given by Manuel Barrueco (four 5-day classes held at Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory in Junes of 1998, 1999 and 2000), Oscar Ghiglia,
Jim Hall, John Holmquist, Scott Tennant/John Dearman, Dr. Nicholas Goluses, Pat Metheny, The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Dr. Stanley Yates, Michael Andriaccio, Mike Stern (2),
Jaco Pastorius, Miroslav Vitous, Juan Mercadal, Dr. Stanley Yates, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Sir Roland Hanna, John Abercrombie (2) and Jerry Hahn.
He also took two private lessons with Franco Platino in 2001 (who is now Professor of Guitar at Levine School of Music of Georgetown University, and studied jazz guitar/improvisation/ harmony/ composition with Walter Namuth from 1989-91.
While finishing his B.Mus. Derek Day was an integral member/very-often-featured improviser of the Texas Tech University "Jazz Ensemble 1" during the years of their recording the 1998-Grammy-nominated "Seein' the Light...Hearin' the Hub-Tones" (Sea Breeze Recordings) including live concerts opening for Diane Reeves, Joe Lovano, Tim Hagans and Mike Stern,
and had a very active performance career from 1976-78, 1979-81 and 1982-99 from Miami to Maryland/Pennsylvania/D.C. to Virginia to Texas to Buffalo to Massachusetts. This includes from backing now-well-known vocalist Natalie Maines (now of Dixie Chicks) when she was singing Shania Twain and Aretha Franklin covers to playing with a jazz trio on Monday nights at Miller's in Charlottesville VA when now-world-renowned Dave Matthews was the busboy there.
Currently Derek Day performs as a solo artist, adept in both Jazz Guitar and Classical Guitar. He recently performed in jazz duos with fellow UNCP Jazz Professor/ trumpeter/vocalist Aaron Vandermeer and saxophonist/ renowned jazz journalist (The Jazz Times, Downbeat...) Owen Cordle.
Professor Day appeared as a Solo Classical Guitar Recitalist regularly on the roster of St. Paul's Cathedral's FRIENDS OF MUSIC series in Buffalo from 1996-2000, at McDaniel College (Maryland) as a part of the E. Mackenzie Music Series where he also gave a master class for both jazz and classical students and a jazz clinic, recently at Mount Olive College's Rodgers Chapel, and at many other locations including music venues on the east coast and in Texas.
He was a concerto soloist near Buffalo with the Cheektowaga Symphony,
and was electric archtop jazz guitarist in Texas for now-San Francisco-based vocalist Carla Helmbrecht, 1993-95. Call him at (910) 249-2632 or send e-mail by clicking on "Contact" for more information regarding the guitar programs at any of the institutions where he teaches, or to book him as a Solo Recitalist, Concerto Soloist or Clinician.
He is available as a solo performer: recitals, full concert programs, private affairs for any occasion; clinician: master classes for classical & jazz guitarists including guitar ensembles, and for all instrumentalists & ensembles in classical &/or jazz and as a concerto soloist.
Professor Day performed Solo Jazz in Kinston NC May 3 2008, Solo Classical Guitar and in Jazz Duo with bassist Guy Percy at Fletcher Recital Hall of East Carolina University on Saturday December 8 2007, in Jazz Duo with Mr. Vandermeer at Black Water Grille in Lumberton NC in Oct. '07,
and gave 4 solo performances (mostly Solo Jazz but some Solo Classical), a master class, clinic, and adjudicated as an integral part of Kentucky's Pleasant Mountains Music Festival May 2007. He adjudicated at Fayetteville's Snyder Music Academy Music Festival's Classical Guitar Competition in March 2007.
He also gave Jazz Performances in the D.C./Baltimore region in Oct. 2007. Plans are already being made for more of this season's and next's performances and clinics/masterclasses.
He shall give a solo recital and master class at Campbell University on October 21, 2008, and a solo jazz recital at The Victor R. Small House, College St., Clinton NC on Sunday November 9 2008 at 3 PM. While donations for the latter are encouraged, both these performances are free and open to all.
The following are quotes regarding Derek Day's Teaching, Performances and reputation:
"Mr. Day has made a positive impact on the guitar and jazz programs. Growth in the guitar studio, as a result of his outreach and reputation... He continues to be an asset to the department; his contributions are noted and appreciated."
- Dr. Janita Byars, 2007 Chair, Dept. of Music - UNC-Pembroke
"...overall, BRAVO!!" "You seem to have a knack for this kind of thing [Mauro Giuliani]."
- Oscar Ghiglia, 1997
"His [jazz] playing was already at a high professional level when he came [to TTU in 1993] and improved while he was here. His performances in local venues during the time he was here made him something of a legend in west Texas. ... Derek has professional ethics of the highest standards and is knowledgeable in many areas. He may be counted upon to do a first rate job at whatever he undertakes."
- Dr. James G. Bogle, Professor of Guitar - Texas Tech University, 1978-2005
"Every time I hear you, you're getting better & better!"
- Manuel Barrueco, 2000
"Derek Day's body and soul embody Jazz. If jazz could walk and talk this guy would be it."
- Anonymous Student Evaluation, UNC-P, 2007
"That was very clear playing." - Jim Hall, jazz-guitar living legend, 1989
"I wish I could play like that!!" - Sheryl Bailey, 1993
"Very good, very good! You're playing has great shape." - John Abercrombie, renowned jazz guitarist, 1990
"You sound great!!"
- Dr. Glenn Caluda, Dec. 2004 Associate Professor of Guitar, Conservatory of Shenandoah University, Winchester VA
The support, advisement, mentoring and modeling of Shenandoah Conservatory's Dr. Glenn Caluda and the extensive quality time spent with his main Guitar Teacher/mentor/advisor/TTU scholarship sponsor: Dr. James Bogle, both provided him with the opportunity to pursue pedagogy & performance as a profession further and excel as an artist. He is grateful for the past and ongoing support of these two of his major professors.
Professor Day performed professionally extensively while in west Texas in solo Classical Guitar and ensemble, duo & solo Jazz Guitar settings. In Jazz while in Texas he also worked regularly as jazz vocalist Carla Helmbrecht's guitarist, often appearing at the restaurant "Jazz," The Lubbock Club [private] and The Cactus Theater among many other venues. They can be heard together on her first CD: "One for My Baby."
He also led his own trio in Lubbock who regularly appeared at the famous Stubb's Barbeque (weekly Wednesday night Jazz), and Hub City Brewery. His experience as a jazz artist and award-winning student is a testament to his ability to help nearly any instrumentalist at any level grow and blossom in the jazz genre.
Also in Texas he worked frequently as a sideman in the rhythm section "the Lubbock Texas Rhythm Machine" with keyboardist/ vocalist Cary Banks and drummer Steve Meador, backing Ken, Lloyd & Natalie Maines, Joe Ely, Tommie Anderson, Buddy Knox, Donnie Allison and Virgil Johnson, and in jazz with Clay Jenkins, John Adams, Frank Mantooth, Al Gardner, Alan Shinn and Dr. Robert E. Henry among many others.
Before teaching at McDaniel College while performing 4-7 nights per week in Miami's clubs with such artists as Red Rodney, Ira Sullivan & Othello Molineaux, from 1979-82 he studied Jazz Guitar at the University of Miami with Randall Dollahon, Brian Harmon & Jerry Kimbrough, Jazz Composition with Ron Miller, and Improvisation & Fundamentals of Swing with Whit Sidener, Vince Lawrence Maggio and Dave Roitstein. He also studied Classical Guitar with Mark Switzer there. Additionally he learned a great deal from the other students he attended Miami with, who include John Hart, Bruce Hornsby, Tom Mitchell, Peter Harris, Clay Oswald, Steve Gould, Ed Calle, Mario Cruz, Andy Sterman, Randy Johnston, Bill Kravtin & Ben Monder.
A prestigous DownBeat "deebee" Outstanding Performance award was earned collectively by the 1982 UM Avant Garde azz Ensemble directed by Professor Ron Miller. The members were Steve Gould, Tom Mitchell, Rich Huffman, Derek Day, Steve Bailey & Rob Cargell. Mr. Day is also the only guitarist to win the Stewart Myers Memorial [Performance] Scholarship. The year previous to Miami he studied Jazz & Classical Guitar in Boston during '78/'79 at Berklee College of Music, using the Myers Scholarship, with Bill Bresnehan & Jazz Theory with Ed Tomassi. He also learned a great deal being around other students at Berklee including Bob Broom, Steve Vai & Kevin Eubanks. His studies at Miami & Berklee transferred as part of his B.Mus. In Maryland from '90-93 Mr. Day led a celebrated jazz trio with renowned bassist Drew Gress & drummer Jon Seligman. During the '80's/ early '90's he also performed & recorded with many jazz artists including Gary Thomas, Bob Moses, Tim Warfield; & John D'earth where some performances were a part of the Newport Jazz Fest. opening for Junior Cook of Horace Silver Quartet fame.
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