Music
James Gai, DA
Clarinet, Saxophone
Professor of Music
Office: HUD 104
Telephone: 660-543-8890
email: gai@ucmo.edu
Joined UCM Faculty in 1985.
Dr. James Gai is a multi-woodwind instrument performer/teacher. He joined the UCM faculty to teach clarinet and saxophone in 1985 following twelve years of teaching at Northern State College, Aberdeen, South Dakota. A former public school band director, Dr. Gai holds Bachelor of Music Education (Clarinet) and Master of Music (Theory/Composition) degrees from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and the Doctor of Arts (Woodwind Performance) from the University of Northern Colorado. He has been with the Yamaha family of artist-clinicians since 1981, performing and presenting clinics across the Midwest and Canada.
Dr. Gai’s students have found success at every level, with careers in education ranging from middle school teaching through higher education, and performance careers that include symphony positions, military bands, cruise ships, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. His students consistently rank among the top collegiate artists in the state and region, most recently placing 1-2-3 at the state level.
He himself continues an active performance schedule as an extra with the Kansas City Symphony, regular member with both the Sedalia and Lee’s Summit symphonies, the After-hours Jazz Trio, and the Jim Gai Big Band. He has performed with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Denver Symphony, Huron Symphony, Watertown Symphony, and soloed with the Central Missouri Concert Band at their 2002 appearance at the Missouri Music Educators Conference. Dr. Gai has performed in the pit orchestras of nineteen musicals and has played for such diverse artists as Bob Hope, Red Skelton, The Lettermen, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Roberta Peters, Ben Vereen, Tommy Netherton, Myron Floren, and Bobby Layne.
Music of the World's Cultures Syllabus
All State Clarinet Performance Notes - Set II
All State Alto Saxophone Performance Notes - Set II
All State Tenor
Saxophone Performance Notes - Set II
All State Clarinet Performance Notes - Set I
Music Calendar
