about me

Autobiography of Stephen Twelker

I began playing music at an early age, and have never stopped. Recorder and saxophone lessons began in the second grade, piano in the third, guitar in the seventh and drums in the twelfth. A deep affection for music led me to become a DJ in my senior year of high school and sing in my church choir. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in English with concentrations in Music and Philosophy from Trinity College in Illinois, I spent a year and a half as a publicity coordinator for MCA Records in Los Angeles, then promoted and played shows in San Francisco. In Portland, I have provided improvised musical environments for the Brody Theater, explored the synthesis of movement and music with a dance troupe, and studied improvisation with jazz pianist Gordon Lee. I have recently completed a book of scale and chord fingerings for the keyboard. I have been teaching piano, guitar and bass to students of all ages since 2002, and have been teaching at East2West Studios since 2006.


Resume of Stephen Twelker

Overview

• Over 30 years of experience teaching, studying, playing, composing, improvising and recording music
• Dedication to music fundamentals as demonstrated by commitment to teaching rhythm, ear training, music reading and theory
• Broad range of experience within music industry including past employment at record label and radio stations as well as teaching
• Multi-faceted creative abilities resulting in fresh, bold approaches and solutions

Education
Bachelor of Arts, English / Communications, Trinity College, Deerfield , IL ; 1984 – 1988
Graduated cum laude; additional concentrations in Music and Philosophy

Teaching Positions

• East2West Studios, Feb. 2006 - Feb. 2010
• Private students, Sept. 2002 – present
• Piano and Guitar Instructor, Marshall High School; January 2005 – December 2005
• Guitar Instructor, Sellwood Community Center; January 2005 – present
• Have taught piano to sight-impaired adult student utilizing aural and tactile techniques

Performance Experience

• Ensemble musician and actor, Brody Theater, Portland, OR; June 1998 – June 2000; provided soundtrack and atmospheric music in fully improvised theater pieces in several shows per week
• Ensemble musician and actor, “The Bard”, Brody Theater, Portland, OR; August 1999 – March 2000; provided vocal and instrumental performances in fully improvised musicals in several shows per week
• Musician and coordinator, Tenth Choir (open mike venue), San Francisco, CA; August 1992 – August 1993

Additional Study

• Private instruction with Gordon Lee, jazz pianist and composer, January 2003 – March 2003; studied improvisation and jazz performance

Publications

• Keyboard Mastery: Scales and Chords; self-published Sept. 2010; wrote, illustrated and self-published text, teaching music theory and fingerings of scales and chords

Other Experience

• Publicity Coordinator, MCA Records, Los Angeles , CA ; June 1990 – Oct. 1991; arranged interviews, photo shoots and concert review opportunities for West Coast college press; accompanied artists on press days, coordinated press events at concerts, wrote press releases
• Radio Announcer, KCIV-FM, The Dalles ; Sept. 1983 – May 1984; selected and announced music selections within adult-oriented contemporary format for 100,000 watt FM station