What is this site about?

On this site, I highlight my musical interest in the early 20th century pre-jazz style of American music known as Ragtime. I intend this site to be a mix of history, commentary, videos of me playing songs, videos of others playing songs, and links to the broader music ecosystem of ragtime music. Please check out the companion YouTube channel. This site is, in short, a celebration of the music I’ve loved throughout my life. I hope you enjoy it!

Who am I?

Growing up in a small town in rural Missouri, I started piano lessons in the summer between second and third grades and continued through high school. Since then, I’ve played piano/keyboards in various college and amateur bands. While in grad school (not music, but that’s another story), I briefly led a piano trio that played restaurant and corporate “Real Book” gigs. While I lived in St. Louis, I also briefly played for a big band in and “The Dixie Rhythm Kings,” a local band that plays primarily in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. St. Louis is a fantastic (and dare I say, underrated) music town. If you’re ever there, I’d encourage you to visit the National Blues Museum, stop by the Scott Joplin House, and explore the local music scene in neighborhoods such as Soulard (known particularly for its blues bands and New Orleans influence from up the Mississippi River), Tower Grove, or the Central West End (CWE).

During the Covid-19 lockdown, I picked up the guitar for the third time in my life. The first was a few months in fifth grade until my interest petered out, and the second was in the mid-2010s until career development took over. This time, it stuck. My main interest guitar-wise is finger picking as it allows the player to play an entire song solo and is “pianistic” in the sense that there are clearly demarcated layers for bass, chords, and melody. Hopefully, I’ll eventually progress to the point I can post some finger-picking guitar ragtime!

Cheers,
Mark