On March 19 and 20, rock/jazz drumming giant Chad Wackerman will hold a rare residency at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music, thanks to support from a Roser Visiting Artists Grant and DW Drums. 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful to Becky Roser and her late husband Jim who have been wonderful benefactors to CU for quite a while,鈥� says Mike Barnett, associate听teaching professor in composition and music theory. 鈥淭his is going to be such an amazing opportunity for students to spend time with Chad.鈥�
Barnett鈥檚 past life in rock is paying off. 鈥淚 was in a metal band when I saw Chad back in 鈥�88 in Pittsburgh when he was drumming with [Frank] Zappa鈥攊t was life-changing,鈥� he recalls. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a phenomenal musician.
鈥淲e met up recently and he reached out about coming here. On March 19, he鈥檒l talk with my songwriters and that night he鈥檒l do a that鈥檚 open to the public. On March 20, he鈥檒l work with student composers on improvising.鈥�
While the residency lasts only two days, the experience can resonate much longer for young students, Barnett suggests鈥攋ust as Wackerman鈥檚 drumming with Zappa influenced him. That thought brings him to the College of Music鈥檚 universal musician mission.
鈥淎 musician these days needs as many skills as possible,鈥� explains Barnett, himself an artist-composer-songwriter-educator. 鈥淎s an artist, you can grow throughout your entire life. And what we鈥檙e accomplishing here at the College of Music can be an example to inspire students. If they branch out while they鈥檙e here, they will be ahead of the game when they graduate.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 about more than getting good grades. It鈥檚 about making your inner self larger. College is just the beginning of your life in learning.鈥�
Barnett鈥檚 experience in the music business still fires his imagination鈥攁nd is key to the College of Music鈥檚. He also calls up his vast experience and connections in the world of rock 鈥榥鈥� roll to bring his students up close to musicians from the outside world.
Barnett鈥檚 impressive r茅sum茅 further includes songwriting and drumming work for 30 years with numerous rock, heavy metal and classical fusion bands with such exotic names as Tainted Saint, Phantom Crew, Terminal Degree and Throttle.
Barnett鈥檚 compositions include chamber works, concertos for piano and violin, pieces for wind ensemble, solo works and songs鈥攎usic that has been performed by various orchestras and ensembles around the world. Closer to home, he鈥檚 collaborated with College of Music colleagues Erika Eckert, David Korevaar, David Requiro, Michael Thornton and particularly the late Charles Wetherbee.
All that said, one of his first loves is teaching and his commitment to one-on-one mentoring. 鈥淚 enjoy creating a welcoming environment for all my students,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 teach the history of rock music. I also teach a songwriting class for non-music majors. I believe that music belongs to everybody.鈥�
