Gary is a happily married father with five children, and two grandchildren. He began his music-teaching career as a long-term substitute teacher at Winslow High School. He currently teaches Music K-8 at Wales Central, Somerville Elementary, and Palermo Consolidated School.
His first foray into learning an instrument himself came when he started to tap on everything in the house (much to his mother's dismay). A blue sparkle drum set began it all thanks to mom and dad. Later he began to play the trombone and flute, which he continued with in the military, and throughout college.
Gary's musical journey did not end in high school. He auditioned and was accepted as an U.S. Army Bandsman. He was stationed with the 113th Dragons Band Ft. Knox, KY. Next, he served with the 195th Army National Guard Band Bangor, ME. He performed for 18 years as a percussionist, trombone player, and audio engineer.
- U.M.A. , Augusta, ME Baccalaureate of Music Jazz and Contemporary Music
- Studio Band drummer (3 years), Big Band drummer (1 year),
- 4th Trombone Big Band (1 year)
- Power Station, Cheshire, CT (studio drummer)
- Megaphone, Portland, ME (studio drummer)
He is keen to point out that everything he listened to directed his musical development in some way. Beginning with performing fife and drum corps at a patriotic Bicentennial re-enactment on July 4, 1976 (at Bunker Hill in Charleston, Mass) to performing for President Ronald Wilson Reagan, and four Maine governors.
The development of his unique teaching style is the result of a lifetime of military influence, musical influence, and family values combined to form the strong base he uses to guide young talent. Gary continually inserts his own personal experiences in teaching K-12 chorus/band, drum and bugle corps, music history, theory, ear training, improvisation, audio engineering, and composition/arranging by using Finale or Sibelius.
Finally, he has many professional affiliations including, the U.S. Army Band system, U.M.A. Audio Engineering Department, A.S.C.A.P., and B.M.I..
A very special thanks to Gary's mentors: Bob Thorn, Dick Demers, Steve Grover, Mark Adams, Bill Moseley, David Dempsey, Mark Manduka, Charles Winfield, John Neal, M. Stanley Buchanan, The drum-god Mike Haskell, and the World famous Ken Labrecque.
