Private Lesson Faculty: Percussion

Matt Carr

mattcarrbeats@gmail.com

Matt Carr graduated from Louisiana State University in 2013 with a Bachelors in Music, where he studied under Brett Dietz, Troy Davis, and Geoff Clapp. During his time at LSU, Matt performed with Hamiruge, the LSU percussion group, at the PASIC convention in 2009. In 2011, he served as the principal percussionist of the LSU Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Donald McKinny. He also contributed to the recordings In Motion: The Percussion Music of David Stock and Reunion: Percussion Music of Stanley Leonard and Brett W. Dietz.

In 2016, Matt received a teaching assistantship at the University of Washington, where he studied with Ted Poor, Cuong Vu, and Greg Sinibaldi. While in Seattle, Matt was a member of the Improvised Music Project, a student-run organization that fundraised, coordinated, and organized performances of original works. He graduated in 2018 with a Masters in Music.

With over fourteen years of teaching experience, Matt lives to cultivate the art and performance of music by helping his students learn percussion and grow as musicians. He has served as an instructor for nonprofits in Louisiana and Texas that provide music education to underprivileged schools. Since moving to Austin seven years ago, Matt has helped many of his students reach Region Honor Band and achieve their musical goals.

As an active performer in the Austin music scene, Matt collaborates with various musicians and ensembles. He performs regularly with some of Austin's top musicians and groups, including Ephraim Owens, Andre Hayward, Elias Haslinger, and the NOW Jazz Orchestra. When not teaching or performing, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.