When I first set foot on the University of Oregon campus in the Fall of 1997 I didn't know what I wanted to study. I'd already dismissed Architecture and I was heavily leaning towards Graphic Design as my desired career path. Since I was a huge band nerd in high school, I'd already signed up for marching band and wanted to play with the low-end concert band for fun. Two weeks before school officially started I received a call in my dorm room from Charles Dowd. "Jeremy, I heard you're at UO, come audition for the department." I told him I didn't have any pieces to play. Charles responded, "I want to hear you play." I gathered up a few things I'd done in high school and went to play my audition for Charles. "Congratulations, you're in." he said while shaking my hand. Thanks to Charles I was now a Music Performance Major in the UO Percussion Department.
Charles had a big personality and wasn't always the easiest guy to communicate with, but if you took the time to listen you could learn how to become a professional musician. This is something I didn't fully appreciate until I returned in 2004 to finish my degree.
I was fortunate enough to see Charles a couple weeks ago at his retirement party and thank him personally to which he responded, "Jeremy, don't fuck up, or you'll get fired." Teaching to the very end. He passed away on March 24, 2010 from pancreatic cancer.
Thank you Charles for everything that you've given me.
2 comments:
Great photo, great way to remember him.
http://drumface.tumblr.com/post/481089977/charles-dowd
Post a Comment