Welcome Don Childress, Guitar
♫ Sunday, November 23rd, 2008Although younger than other Music Arts instructors, the music school’s latest addition to the faculty is brimming with talent, enthusiasm and playing experience.
Don Childress
Don Childress, who sports the nickname “Duck,” recently graduated from Bearden High School and has as his life’s goal to be a professional musician and teacher.
A guitarist who’s familiar with a wide range of music styles, Don especially enjoys rock, jazz, bluegrass, country and blues. He’s lead guitarist and vocalist for two Knoxville bands and keeps busy performing.
Don’s hope, in teaching, is to pass along his love of music. “I think it’s good to pass music around and share it with everybody,” he emphasizes. “Everyone deserves a chance to learn.” He doesn’t put age limits on the students he’ll accept.
At lessons with new students, Don prefers to first see what they already know. He thinks it’s important to also find out what their goals are. Do they want to learn just chords, or learn to read melodies? “If they can sit still for scales and music theory, I’d be happy to help them with that, too” he grins.
As a musician who loves his guitar and making music, Don was inspired to play guitar because his father had a guitar. “Dad taught me some chords, and it was ‘away we go’ from then on,” Don says, adding “The bottom line is that I always want my students to have fun. If they’re not having fun, then they’re wasting their time and their money.”
