I started playing clarinet in 1987 at Grinnell Middle School. Around the same time I began my experimentation with drums and percussion. I played drums for a short time in a garage band. In 1989 I began to learn the saxophone so that I could play in the jazz band. At Grinnell High School I played saxophone in jazz band and contrabass clarinet in concert band. It was in high school that I also started playing guitar. In 1993 I auditioned, and was selected, to play saxophone in the State Fair Singers and Jazz band (currently known as Celebration Iowa Singers and Jazz Band). I spent three summers playing music all across Iowa. In 1994 I began playing flute in the Grinnell High School concert band. In 1994-95 I had the opportunity to play in the Grinnell College Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos.