Vitae
Birthplace and Date
Muncie, Indiana; September 23, 1977
Areas of Expertise
Percussion Performance / Pedagogy
Music Theory/Technology
Jazz Improvisation / Pedagogy
Classical Percussion Ensembles
Jazz Drumset / Pedagogy Large and Small Jazz Ensembles
Education
2003 Master of Music
University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, CO) Degree Emphasis: Percussion Performance
2001 Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Music
Ball State University (Muncie, IN) Degree Emphasis: Music Education & Percussion Performance
Teaching Experience
2003-2005 Lecturer in Music; Western State College, Gunnison, Colorado
2003-2004 Adjunct Instructor; Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado
2002-2003 Teaching Assistant; University of Northern Colorado, Percussion Dept. Duties: Teaching 10 Private students, Directing 2 Percussion Ensemble, administrative duties
2001-2003 Teaching Assistant; University of Northern Colorado, Jazz Studies Dept. Duties: Directing Small and Large Jazz Ensembles, Assistant to the UNC Greeley Jazz Festival
2001 Assistant Band Director; Anderson Highland High School (IN)
1998-2001 Private Lesson Instructor; Muncie Music Center (IN)
1998-2000 Percussion Instructor Assistant; Indiana All-State High School Marimba/percussion ensemble
1998 Marching Percussion Instructor (Winchester High School (IN)
Professional Performing/Work Experience
2004 Drummer; Ciao Bar at Pulcinella Restaraunte (CO)
2002-present Percussionist; Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra
2001 Vibraphonist; Ciao Vino Jazz Group, Vibe UP! TRIO (CO)
2000-2001 Assistant to jazz education program “Jazz for Juniors”
Duties: performing in presentations at local schools
1998-2000 Percussionist; Marion Symphony Orchestra (IN)
1997-2000 Percussionist; Muncie Symphony Orchestra (IN)
1996-present Drummer Various jazz combos
1996-1999 Office Assistant; Ball State University College of Fine Arts Dean’s Office
University Performance Experience
2001-2004 Percussionist; Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra
2002-2003 Drummer; University of Northern Colorado Combo I
2002 Vibraphonist; University of Northern Colorado Combo
2002-2003 University of Northern Colorado Percussion Ens. I
2001-2000 University of Northern Colorado Lab Bands I, II
2001-2003 University of Northern Colorado Symphony Orchestra Percussion Principal
1999-2000 Ball State University Latin Percussion Ensemble
1996-2000 Ball State University Marimba Ensemble
1996-2001 Ball State University Jazz Ensembles
1999-2001 Ball State University Jazz Lab Band One
1996-2000 Ball State University Marching Band Snare Drum Section Leader
1996-1999 Ball State University Wind Ensemble
Awards
2003 Down Beat Student Music Award outstanding college combo/UNC
2002 I.A.J.E. outstanding drum solo award (UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival)
2002 Down Beat Student Music Award Orchestra catagory, UNC Orchestra
2001 University of Northern Colorado Music Performance Scholarship
2000 Elizabeth E. Meloy Memorial Scholarship (BSU)
1998 Ball State University Undergraduate Distinction Fellowship Recipient
1998-2001 Betty Boggs Music Scholarship (BSU)
1996-2000 Ball State University Presidential Scholarship
Honors
2001 BSU Jazz Lab I European Tour (Vienne, Montreux, North Sea Festival) 2000 Student Exchange Program: Solo Marimba Recital given at Mukogawa University (Osaka, Japan)
1999 Ball State University Undergraduate Solo/Concerto Competition winner – subsequent orchestral debut with Ball State Orchestra
1997-1998 Ball State University Dean’s List
Private Teachers
2001-2003 Gray Barrier at University of Northern Colorado
2000-2001 Dr. Douglas Walter at University of Colorado-Boulder
2000 Frank Puzzullo at Ball State University
1996-2001 Dr. Erwin Mueller at Ball State University
Professional Memberships
1999-present Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society
1999-2000 Music Educators National Conference Collegiate Chapter 1998-present Percussive Arts Society
References
Dr. Erwin C. Mueller
Director of Percussion Studies
Ball State University
(765) 285-5401
emueller@bsu.edu
Gray Barrier
Director of Percussion Studies
University of Northern Colorado
(970) 351 - 2226
gbarrier@arts.unco.edu
Dana Landry
Director of Jazz Studies
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-2259
dlandry@arts.unco.edu
Dr. Martha W. Violett
Director of School of Music
Western State College
Gunnison, CO 81231
(970) 943-3054
mviolett@western.edu
Dr. Joseph Scagnoli
Director of Bands/Associate Director of School of Music
Ball State University
jscagnol@bsu.edu
Gene Aitken
University of Northern Colorado (retired)
(970) 351-2257
(970) 285- 5401
genejazz0@aol.com
In 2003, Gabriel Beach received a Master of Music from the University of Northern Colorado where he taught percussion, ensembles, jazz bands, and assisted with the Greeley Jazz festival production. At UNC, Gabe was an active performer with jazz ensembles and the Greeley Philharmonic were he received two outstanding performance awards (by recorded submission) from the famed music periodical DOWNBEAT.
After graduation, he took positions teaching percussion at Adams State College in Alamosa, CO and Western State in Gunnison and continued as a freelance performer and leader of professional bands.
Raised in Indiana, Gabe received a traditional education and enjoyed reading and music early in childhood. With an older brother Greg and father Ron both being musicians, he picked up sticks at age 12 and began studying seriously. As an active performer all through high school, he built a strong foundation that would allow him to continue his studies with the great teacher and percussionist Erwin Mueller at Ball University in Muncie, Indiana. Dr. Mueller, who studied with Ed Metzenger of the the Chicago Symphony, would expose him to all the doors of possibility that music has for the percussionist. Focusing on the Marimba as a solo and ensemble instrument in College, Gabe won the 1999 university undergraduate Concerto Competition which resulted in his orchestral solo debut of Keiko Abe’s ‘Prism Rhapsody’ and in 2000, a Student Exchange with Mukogawa University (Osaka, Japan) and a subsequent solo marimba recital.
While earning a B.S. and B.M. at Ball State, Gabe was an active performer on drum set and percussion with many professional and school ensembles. The most notable being the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Lab Band I, which toured Europe in the summer of 2000 (Vienne, Montreux, North Sea Jazz Festivals).
Currently living in Colorado, he teaches percussion to all ages at his personal studio. His philosophy of teaching is simple and informal.
Fundamentals come first, but also allowing student self direction and discovery. An active performer, Gabe continues to hone his ensemble conducting and compositional skill to create the most excellent recordings and performances allowable.