The son of a band director, Jon Gregory always had
an interest and talent in music. Growing up in
Independence, MO, he entered sixth grade band
intending to play the clarinet like his dad, and
found himself thrown into an endless sea of clarinet
players. Jon wanted to do something different, and
no one played the tuba. They brought one in, he made
a sound, and just like that—he found his niche.
From a young age Jon was motivated to be a good player and saw that there might be a future in it for him if he worked hard enough. John wasn’t sure until his junior year of high school that he wanted to pursue music as a career. He’d always held admiration for American heroes like members of the military, and considered that career before choosing music. He would go on to be a proud semi-finalist for the ultra-competitive US Coast Guard Band, and have students in the Commandant’s Own Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.
Jon attended the University of Central Missouri for his undergraduate degree. It was here he met his now wife, a fellow musician and successful band director in her own right. Jon respected the UCM faculty as teachers, and he wanted to get to know them as colleagues, so he returned to UCM as an instructor after completing his Masters of Music from the University of Akron. He also came back to UCM with a goal: to build up the tuba/euphonium program. Since he began in 2005, the number of his students has quadrupled.
Some students who play tuba in high school perform little more than the rhythmic “oompahs.” Whatever their background, Jon Gregory opens up a whole new world of possibilities to the students in his studio. Although the tuba is known for its deep low notes, it actually has no set range, and a player can potentially produce very high pitches with the instrument. Jon loves introducing students to more complex musical literature for tuba and euphonium, as hearing it often comes as a shock, and an inspiration. Jon expects a lot from his students, and works as hard as he can to help them achieve their best.
Jon has performed in the Lee’s Summit Symphony, the Ashland Symphony, the Cuyahoga Valley Brass Band, and the Fountain City Brass Band. He enjoys playing in brass quintets, such as the UCM Brass Faculty Quintet, because the size and dynamics of the ensemble make it a lot of fun. Always a teacher at heart, he is active throughout the Kansas City Metropolitan area as a private teacher for all ages.
From a young age Jon was motivated to be a good player and saw that there might be a future in it for him if he worked hard enough. John wasn’t sure until his junior year of high school that he wanted to pursue music as a career. He’d always held admiration for American heroes like members of the military, and considered that career before choosing music. He would go on to be a proud semi-finalist for the ultra-competitive US Coast Guard Band, and have students in the Commandant’s Own Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.
Jon attended the University of Central Missouri for his undergraduate degree. It was here he met his now wife, a fellow musician and successful band director in her own right. Jon respected the UCM faculty as teachers, and he wanted to get to know them as colleagues, so he returned to UCM as an instructor after completing his Masters of Music from the University of Akron. He also came back to UCM with a goal: to build up the tuba/euphonium program. Since he began in 2005, the number of his students has quadrupled.
Some students who play tuba in high school perform little more than the rhythmic “oompahs.” Whatever their background, Jon Gregory opens up a whole new world of possibilities to the students in his studio. Although the tuba is known for its deep low notes, it actually has no set range, and a player can potentially produce very high pitches with the instrument. Jon loves introducing students to more complex musical literature for tuba and euphonium, as hearing it often comes as a shock, and an inspiration. Jon expects a lot from his students, and works as hard as he can to help them achieve their best.
Jon has performed in the Lee’s Summit Symphony, the Ashland Symphony, the Cuyahoga Valley Brass Band, and the Fountain City Brass Band. He enjoys playing in brass quintets, such as the UCM Brass Faculty Quintet, because the size and dynamics of the ensemble make it a lot of fun. Always a teacher at heart, he is active throughout the Kansas City Metropolitan area as a private teacher for all ages.
