RON SMITH
MUSICAL BACKGROUND
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
- Small Jazz Ensembles: Gary Burton ("A Genuine Tong Funeral," Mixed Bag, WGBH-TV, Boston; Elvin Jones, Marian McPartland, Jimmy McPartland, Dorothy Donegan, Rose Murphy, Marty Tocci
- Big Bands: Clem DeRosa, Jimmy Dorsey, Buddy Rich
- Jazz Clinics: Clem DeRosa, Howie Mann, Ranny Reeve, Jack Reilly, Andy McGhee
- Band Leader: Ron Smith Quintet
- C.D.'s: Explorations for Barbara: Atlantis Revisited; C.H.S.
- Arranger: Satin Brass, Ron Smith Quintet
- Composer: Ron Smith Quintet
- Other Playing Experience: Extensive performance in symphony orchestras, Broadway pit orchestras, Town Hall, Concert bands, U.S.
- Army Band - New York, Japan
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
As a tenured instrumental music teacher at the F.H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts (the "Fame" school) in New York City, I had the pleasure of teaching many young talented musicians. I am now retired from that wonderful school, and continue to teach many of those same classroom courses in the individual student setting. I am still an adjunct bass instructor in the CUNY system.
I have over 30 years of private teaching experience, which includes individual and group lessons, and jazz clinics.
AWARD-WINNING STUDENTS:
Several of my students have become notable in the music industry. Jon Burr, the string bassist, has performed with many leading jazz musicians including Tony Bennett, Stephane Grappelli and Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Trio. Jimmy Haslip is the electric bassist and a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning "Yellow Jackets." Chanell Crichlow is a classical orchestra tuba player, a tuba soloist and modern pop stylist with a bright future. Tommy Uzzo is a world renowned recording engineer, whose Mirror Image Recording Studio in New York City engineered the sound tracks for many well-known musicians
EDUCATION:
After graduating from Walt Whitman High School in South Huntington, Long Island, I attended the celebrated music programs at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas, and the Berklee School of Music in Boston. Following a tour of duty with the U.S. Army Band, I secured my B.S. from CUNY and M.A.T. from Lehman College, both in New York City.