Derek Day, Jazz Artist / Music Professor
Don't miss Derek Day (at left above) perform as a small-but-good part of the UNC-Pembroke Music Dept. Christmas Gala the evening of Tues. Dec. 1 at GPAC on campus. Dr. Tim Altman, Chair of the UNCP Dept. of Music, wrote in Nov. 2009: "Our guitar teacher is Derek Day. He is a marvelous classical and jazz guitar teacher and performer. We are fortunate to have him." Last June Jazz Journalist/Critic Owen Cordle called him a "superb guitarist" & commented after Derek's Oct. 10, 2009 solo Jazz performance at The Borden House in Raleigh NC: "You sounded great." Please call [(910) 249-2632] or email him (click "contact") to purchase his Solo Jazz Guitar performance DVD from Oct. 2008. Check back here soon to find out when & where you can hear & see Derek perform after Dec. 1.
Dr. Altman also said after a 2009 appearance Aaron Vandermeer, Dr. Larry Arnold and him (pictured above) and Vocalist/UNCP Musical Theater Professor Hal Davis: "The point is that you had a great performance this morning. Thanks for being such amazing musicians and colleagues!!"
With a total of 8 "guitar majors" in his studios currently, Derek teaches more than full-time hours as an Adjunct Instructor/Professor/Lecturer of Music at three institutions. He is Adjunct Instructor of Guitar at Mt. Olive [NC] College, where Guitar is a principal instrument in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science, Music Performance, & 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 Adjunctive Professor of Guitar at *Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary/*The College at Southeastern in Wake Forest NC, where Guitar is students' one of principal instruments 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 is also the Adjunct Lecturer at the Department of Music, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke teaching: Jazz Guitar, Classical Guitar, [Jazz} Improvisation, Jazz Pedagogy; directing a Small Jazz Ensemble & Guitar Ensemble; and teaching a beginners' guitar course. Music Majors with Guitar as their principal instrument enroll for 1-hr./2-credit private lessons each semester. For Music Majors and those in other majors, a Minor in Jazz Studies is also an option.
Some private lesson times are available each semester for non-music majors, & the beginners' guitar course is open to all non-major guitar students. Generally some students move to private lessons after successfully completing the beginners' class. For Music Majors at UNC-Pembroke, Classical Guitar or Jazz Guitar can be students' principal instrument/focus, but Classical Guitar usually encompasses students' studies for their first 3 semesters when entering as freshman.
Jazz Guitar entirely may be substituted if a student enters as a freshman, transfer or graduate student with jazz skills already in place; 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 Industry 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,
and a Master of Arts in Music Education with Guitar as one's principal instrument.
Again, Derek taught 400-level, 3-credit Jazz Pedagogy during Spring 2009's semester at UNCP. He's teaching 200-level Jazz Improvisation in Fall 2009. In Spring semesters 2006 & '07 he taught the 2 levels of Improvisation. He also teaches privately in Dunn & Clinton NC.
With numerous performances since their debut in Fall 2008, he is a member of the UNCP Faculty Jazz Trio with Professor Aaron Vandermeer & Dr. Larry Arnold. From 1984-93 Derek was 1/2-time Adjunct Lecturer in Guitar/Jazz Studies at McDaniel College in Maryland. He also taught privately a great deal in Westminster from 1975-78 and 1983-93. More recently he was Adj. Instructor of Guitar at Fayetteville [NC] Technical Community College from 2002-05 & from 2000-02 he was a Full-Time Music Teacher for Sampson Co. [NC] Schools.
His Jazz expertise both as a performer and an educator is at a very highly developed and refined level. Additionally, with his degrees in Classical Guitar, Derek produces beautiful tone as a Classical Guitarist with 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 Concentration, where he studied extensively with Dr. James Bogle. All his studies there were while on "Maximum Award" Jazz Scholarship thanks to Dr. Bogle and Professor Alan Shinn; the degree includes many transfer credits from his majoring in Studio Music & Jazz [Guitar] at University of Miami.
Derek received the Master of Music, Performance - Classical Guitar, from the State University of New York - Buffalo in 1999, with a cum. GPA of 3.617. With no guitar-teaching assistantship available to anyone at SUNY/Buffalo due to its very small program (then & now) & on his guitar Professor J. Castellani's recommendation, he was appointed Teacher of Guitar at the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, serving from 1997-2000. He also taught a great deal privately in Buffalo.
After a successful audition, in 2003 he was awarded a doctoral-studies fellowship and in 2004 began studies in pursuit of a Doctor of Musical Arts in Guitar Pedagogy/Performance at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester VA. Derek 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 he performed/studied in master classes given by Manuel Barrueco (four 5-day classes held at Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory in Junes of 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2001), 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 (with Wynton & Branford Marsalis & Bill Pierce), Sir Roland Hanna, John Abercrombie (2) and Jerry Hahn.
Derek also took two private lessons with Franco Platino at Peabody.
While finishing his B.Mus. he 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 a jazz festival on the bill with 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.
He 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 Mackenzie Music Series where he also gave a master class for both Jazz & classical guitar 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.
Derek was a concerto soloist near Buffalo with the Cheektowaga Symphony.
Call or email him directly to book him for Solo Jazz Guitar, in Jazz Trio or Jazz Duo settings and/or Clinician in Jazz generally &/or Jazz Guitar or for more information about the guitar programs at the 3 institutions where he teaches.
Derek is available as a solo performer, now with 7-String Jazz Guitar: recitals, full concert programs, private affairs for any occasion; and/or clinician: clinics or master classes for Jazz students, all instruments, and Classical & Jazz Guitarists.
He gave Jazz performances in N. Carolina from Durham to Wilmington in 2008, including a recent solo Jazz in full concert program at Campbell University's Scott Concert Hall. In 2007 his performances included at East Carolina U.'s Fletcher Recital Hall, and 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. He adjudicated at Fayetteville's Snyder Music Academy Music Festival's Guitar Competition in March 2007.
The following are quotes regarding his Teaching, Performances and reputation:
"Derek is our guitar teacher at UNCP. He is amazingly talented..." - Dr. Tim Altman, Feb. 2009 Chair, Dept. of Music - UNCP
"I just wanted to tell you that he's really enjoying your class [MUS4060 Jazz Pedagogy at UNCP]." - The father of Spring semester '09 student, 2009
"I think that you [Derek] are an outstanding addition to our faculty...You are a strong teacher in multiple disciplines. We want to keep you here."
- Dr. Tim Altman, Aug. 2008
"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 former Chair, Dept. of Music - UNC-P
"...overall, BRAVO!!" "You seem to have a knack for this kind of thing [a piece by Mauro Giuliani]."
- Oscar Ghiglia, 1997
"As Steven's guitar teacher & mentor, it meant so much to us to have you participate in the ceremony. Thank you for all you do for Steven." - Parents of a recent student, Aug. 2009
"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 Emeritus of Guitar - Texas Tech University, 1998
"Every time I hear you, you're getting better & better!"
- Manuel Barrueco, 2000
"That was very clear playing." - Jim Hall, jazz-guitar living legend, 1989
"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 provided him with the opportunity to further excel as an artist & teacher. He is grateful for the support of these two of his major professors.
Derek performed extensively while in west Texas in solo Classical Guitar and ensemble, duo & solo Jazz Guitar settings. Also while in Texas he also worked regularly as Jazz vocalist Carla Helmbrecht's guitarist, often appearing at "Jazz - a Louisiana Kitchen," The Lubbock Club and The Cactus Theater and many other venues. He can be heard accompanying on her first CD: "One for My Baby," best represented on her "Dream a Little Dream." Derek also performed in Jazz trio setting in Lubbock frequently at Hub City Restaurant/Brew Pub.
Derek's 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 and many others. He also backed Joe Ely, Tommie Anderson, Buddy Knox, and performed jazz with Kevin Purrone, John Adams, Al Gardner, Alan Shinn, Royce Chambers and Dr. Robert Henry among many others.
Before teaching at McDaniel College while performing 4-7 nights per week in Miami's clubs with such Jazz artists as Andy Sterman, John Hart, Ed Calle, & Mario Cruz, from 1979-82 Derek studied Jazz Guitar at the University of Miami with Randall Dollahon & Brian Harman, Jazz Composition with Ron Miller, and Improvisation & Fundamentals of Swing with Whit Sidener, Vince Maggio and Dave Roitstein. He also learned a great deal from the other Miami musicians & students who include Red Rodney, Bruce Hornsby, Tom Mitchell, Steve Gould, Ira Sullivan, Othello Molineaux, Mike Gerber, Steve Bagby, Randy Johnston, Rick Keller, Bob Brockmann and Dave Ake.
The DownBeat "deebee" Outstanding Performance award was earned collectively by the 1982 U. of Miami [avant garde] Jazz Ensemble directed by Professor Ron Miller. The members were Steve Gould, Tom Mitchell, Derek, Rich Huffman, Steve Bailey & Rob Cargell. He is also the only guitarist to win the S. Myers Music Scholarship. Derek studied Jazz & Classical Guitar in Boston, '78/'79 at Berklee College of Music, using the Myers Scholarship, with Bill Bresnehan & Robert Dozema and Harmony with Edward Tomassi. He also learned a great deal from other students: Bob Broom & Steve Vai. His studies at Miami & Berklee transferred towards his B.Mus. From '90-93 Derek was 1/3 of a celebrated Jazz trio with renowned bassist Drew Gress & drummer Jon Seligman. He also performed/recorded with Gary Thomas, Tim Warfield, Terell Stafford, Chris Bacas, Bob Moses, Clay Jenkins, John Hart, John D'earth, Ed Calle, Glen Cashman & many others.
Send E-Mail to: derek.day@uncp.eduCopyright © 2009 Derek Day. All Rights Reserved