Yep, that's me in the maroon, Mike Walsh! I have a bucket list ... and am not afraid to use it! I've jumped out of a plane at 16,000 feet, rafted down the Colorado river on level-4 rapids, and walked downtown LA, NYC and Chicago... during rush hour! I've always been a calculated-risk type of guy. No risk, no reward. Optimist - glass half-full rather than half-empty. Honestly, not sure how jumping out of a completely good airplane qualifies as a good decision, it was just on my "bucket list" - but that's another discussion...
I picked up guitar at the age of 6... I've been in wind bands, jazz quartets, rock bands, funk bands, country bands, and performed in front of thousands of people on French Horn, on Guitar, and on Bass. As a Band Conductor I've had the privilege of performing on some of the greatest concert stages in the world including Carnegie Hall (on 3 separate occasions). I've rehearsed/performed/lived-through more halftime shows than most folks would ever want to see in a lifetime. And I've had the privilege of working beside and networking with some the best musicians in the world. Needless to say, MUSIC has been in my blood most of my life!
Turn of events.... We've been told that you "can't teach an old dog new tricks." For most people it feels risky and uncomfortable to switch careers. A few years back I decided I wanted to learn about digital lighting to move myself out of my comfort-zone (we all have these moments, right?). I got involved with the production team at my very large church. In addition to having access to the most advanced audio and lighting technology available, it also got me around some of the best working musicians, audio producers and audio/lighting techs in Atlanta - true "shakers and movers!" In late 2017, with the help of my dear friend (and former AHS Band Director) Ira Jenkins along with our Principal Dr. Shannon Kersey, Alpharetta HS were able to secure a sizable grant to create the most advanced Music Technology Lab in the Fulton County school system. So after teaching high school Band for 36 years and being "the Band Director," I decided to learn something completely new and jumped into the world of audio recording and production! I develop / write the curriculum - and then figure out how to communicate and teach it to high school students. With the help from my many friends in "the industry" and a forward-thinking administration at our school, in 2018 we launched the first Audio Production course in FCS Schools - at Alpharetta HS! We grow in part by networking with local studios and producers. I'm really excited to teach Music Technology / Audio Production at AHS!
So here's what I have discovered so far... you absolutely CAN teach an old dog new tricks - and it is SO very worth the risk!
I picked up guitar at the age of 6... I've been in wind bands, jazz quartets, rock bands, funk bands, country bands, and performed in front of thousands of people on French Horn, on Guitar, and on Bass. As a Band Conductor I've had the privilege of performing on some of the greatest concert stages in the world including Carnegie Hall (on 3 separate occasions). I've rehearsed/performed/lived-through more halftime shows than most folks would ever want to see in a lifetime. And I've had the privilege of working beside and networking with some the best musicians in the world. Needless to say, MUSIC has been in my blood most of my life!
Turn of events.... We've been told that you "can't teach an old dog new tricks." For most people it feels risky and uncomfortable to switch careers. A few years back I decided I wanted to learn about digital lighting to move myself out of my comfort-zone (we all have these moments, right?). I got involved with the production team at my very large church. In addition to having access to the most advanced audio and lighting technology available, it also got me around some of the best working musicians, audio producers and audio/lighting techs in Atlanta - true "shakers and movers!" In late 2017, with the help of my dear friend (and former AHS Band Director) Ira Jenkins along with our Principal Dr. Shannon Kersey, Alpharetta HS were able to secure a sizable grant to create the most advanced Music Technology Lab in the Fulton County school system. So after teaching high school Band for 36 years and being "the Band Director," I decided to learn something completely new and jumped into the world of audio recording and production! I develop / write the curriculum - and then figure out how to communicate and teach it to high school students. With the help from my many friends in "the industry" and a forward-thinking administration at our school, in 2018 we launched the first Audio Production course in FCS Schools - at Alpharetta HS! We grow in part by networking with local studios and producers. I'm really excited to teach Music Technology / Audio Production at AHS!
So here's what I have discovered so far... you absolutely CAN teach an old dog new tricks - and it is SO very worth the risk!
