Registered Member
Brendan Booher grew up with a fiddle in his hands. at the tender age of three, Brendan picked up the violin, and has since never put it down. After learning a tune and a scale, and basic form from Mom (Dolores), Brendan with his family (who are all musical too), began playing with the local Oldtime Fiddlers group. It was with the Fiddlers on stage at their numerous jam sessions that Brendan gained his first large repertoire of tunes, from waltzes to hoedowns and most everything in between. Brendan’s six older siblings had already become quite proficient on their various instruments of choice (piano, guitar, mandolin, bass and fiddle) and along with Brendan, younger brother Gabe, and parents Mike and Dolores, they began entertaining the public at local events. They were often joined by musical grandparents Charles and Dorothy, who encouraged and inspired the family whenever they got the opportunity.
In time, the Booher family began travelling the States and western Canada performing at fairs and conducting public school assemblies, and eventually had the honor of performing before the President of the United States, and on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion show. Branson Missouri (Silver Dollar City) was often frequented by the Booher’s, where they performed numerous times, and they also had the privilege of travelling and performing in Europe (Poland and Austria).
At six years old, Brendan won 1st prize in his division at the Oregon State Fiddle Contest. Brendan would continue to win many awards at various contests in Oregon, California and Idaho over the next 12 years. Many of Brendan’s brothers and sister also competed and continue to (older brother Rudi won the highest award at the Oregon State Fiddle Contest many times, along with taking 1st place in the open division at the U.S. National Fiddle Contest, and brother Justin took first place in the U.S. National Fiddle Contest in his division).
At the age of ten, Brendan took up the mandolin, finding in it a nice change from the violin, and the pick could do some things that the bow just could not do. Expressing his heart through multiple instruments had become a desirable pursuit because of the varied sounds and creative opportunities each instrument proposed. Guitar shortly followed, then the tenor and plectrum guitar, which naturally led to the tenor banjo.
In his early teens, Brendan became interested in jazz, and was improvising with gusto and creative skill, winding his way with experiential confidence through the dynamic and fascinating chord progressions of many old jazz favorites which strongly captured his interest.
Brendan’s playing has been largely influenced by many jazz greats, including Benny Goodman, Oscar Peterson, Svend Asmussen and Western Swing fiddle and mandolin extraordinaire Johnny Gimble. Brendan has performed with Johnny more than once, once with Asleep at the Wheel, and had the rare opportunity to join various members of king of Country Music George Strait’s band.
Brendan’s music teaching career includes: 18 years private instruction experience. 16 years class instruction at The Oregon based Booher Family Music Camp (www.boohermusiccamp.com). One quarter mester as a Fiddle/Violin and Mandolin teacher at the John G. Shedd Institute For the Arts in Eugene Oregon. Three semesters at Sisters Charter Academy of Fine Arts as the school music teacher.
Brendan Resides in Oregon with his lovely and beautiful wife Sarah, precious baby boy Tyler and little Abigail soon to be born. We live in our own special little world, where we worship our Lord Jesus, and have sweet and special family times regularly!
Brendan recently founded Music Lessons school:
Music Lessons School is committed to reaching out to both local and international students who desire to learn how to play an instrument from the comfort of their own homes. The simple but very informative and profound approach provided through our downloadable teaching videos will certainly give our students enough instruction and inspiration to become adept at their instrument of choice, and to enjoy the process along the way.
Brendan has been involved in helping and inspiring students for almost two decades with his practical teaching method. The focus of Brendan’s instruction is ear playing, proper form and technique and practical theory. With these things, the passionate student is bound to go farther in his musical journey than he may have ever imagined.
Along with his subjects of focus, Brendan clearly and understandably explains everything, so that you don’t have to wonder what he’s talking about, or how to do what he’s showing you. This is important not only for adult students, but for children also, whom we encourage to take advantage of Brendan’s videos.
Each video is +-10 minutes long, and contains a complete learning session. This first series of videos is available in consecutive order from Lessons 1 through 24. As you proceed from video lesson 1 up through each lesson following, you will find a continuity of instruction and information.
In time, the Booher family began travelling the States and western Canada performing at fairs and conducting public school assemblies, and eventually had the honor of performing before the President of the United States, and on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion show. Branson Missouri (Silver Dollar City) was often frequented by the Booher’s, where they performed numerous times, and they also had the privilege of travelling and performing in Europe (Poland and Austria).
At six years old, Brendan won 1st prize in his division at the Oregon State Fiddle Contest. Brendan would continue to win many awards at various contests in Oregon, California and Idaho over the next 12 years. Many of Brendan’s brothers and sister also competed and continue to (older brother Rudi won the highest award at the Oregon State Fiddle Contest many times, along with taking 1st place in the open division at the U.S. National Fiddle Contest, and brother Justin took first place in the U.S. National Fiddle Contest in his division).
At the age of ten, Brendan took up the mandolin, finding in it a nice change from the violin, and the pick could do some things that the bow just could not do. Expressing his heart through multiple instruments had become a desirable pursuit because of the varied sounds and creative opportunities each instrument proposed. Guitar shortly followed, then the tenor and plectrum guitar, which naturally led to the tenor banjo.
In his early teens, Brendan became interested in jazz, and was improvising with gusto and creative skill, winding his way with experiential confidence through the dynamic and fascinating chord progressions of many old jazz favorites which strongly captured his interest.
Brendan’s playing has been largely influenced by many jazz greats, including Benny Goodman, Oscar Peterson, Svend Asmussen and Western Swing fiddle and mandolin extraordinaire Johnny Gimble. Brendan has performed with Johnny more than once, once with Asleep at the Wheel, and had the rare opportunity to join various members of king of Country Music George Strait’s band.
Brendan’s music teaching career includes: 18 years private instruction experience. 16 years class instruction at The Oregon based Booher Family Music Camp (www.boohermusiccamp.com). One quarter mester as a Fiddle/Violin and Mandolin teacher at the John G. Shedd Institute For the Arts in Eugene Oregon. Three semesters at Sisters Charter Academy of Fine Arts as the school music teacher.
Brendan Resides in Oregon with his lovely and beautiful wife Sarah, precious baby boy Tyler and little Abigail soon to be born. We live in our own special little world, where we worship our Lord Jesus, and have sweet and special family times regularly!
Brendan recently founded Music Lessons school:
Music Lessons School is committed to reaching out to both local and international students who desire to learn how to play an instrument from the comfort of their own homes. The simple but very informative and profound approach provided through our downloadable teaching videos will certainly give our students enough instruction and inspiration to become adept at their instrument of choice, and to enjoy the process along the way.
Brendan has been involved in helping and inspiring students for almost two decades with his practical teaching method. The focus of Brendan’s instruction is ear playing, proper form and technique and practical theory. With these things, the passionate student is bound to go farther in his musical journey than he may have ever imagined.
Along with his subjects of focus, Brendan clearly and understandably explains everything, so that you don’t have to wonder what he’s talking about, or how to do what he’s showing you. This is important not only for adult students, but for children also, whom we encourage to take advantage of Brendan’s videos.
Each video is +-10 minutes long, and contains a complete learning session. This first series of videos is available in consecutive order from Lessons 1 through 24. As you proceed from video lesson 1 up through each lesson following, you will find a continuity of instruction and information.