Music Legends Teach Their Craft

Northeast Technology Center in Claremore now offers inexpensive music classes with world-renowned musicians.

While legend Roy Clark doesn’t teach guitar or fiddle lessons in Claremore, he has endorsed the Northeast Technology Center’s music school which now carries his name. The Roy Clark Music School opened in February of 2012 with a variety of class ­offerings in guitar, fiddle, ­mandolin, music theory, piano, sound mixing, introduction to the music business, and more.

    A living legend in the music industry, Clark has had a career spanning over 50 years. Besides gracing the stage with a “who’s who” of musicians, he spent over 20 years as host of the hit show “Hee Haw,” has guest-hosted “The Tonight Show,” and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Clark has won countless awards, including the Academy of Country Music’s prestigious “Entertainer of the Year” award. Clark continues to perform live, taking his music to all corners of the nation, as well as recording new music.

    “We are so honored to have the Roy Clark Music School on our Claremore campus,” says Melissa Overcash, adult ­education director. NTC classes are held in the evenings so that working adults can attend. However, classes are open to youngsters beginning at age 12. Students have the opportunity to learn directly from pioneers in the music industry and from ­professionals with impressive résumés.

    Spring 2013 classes include Mandolin, Music Theory, Twin Fiddle, Western Swing Jam Session, Bluegrass Jam Session, Fiddling with Flair, Introduction to Fiddling, Beginning Fiddling, Contemporary Guitar Jam, Guitar I and II, Advanced Guitar, Bass Guitar I, II and III, Banjo, Keyboard/Piano I and II, Introduction to Sound Mixing, How to Jam (Improv), and Inside the Music Business.

    “With instructors like Shelby Eicher and Jana Jae, you will receive the absolute best training for a great price,” Overcash says. “Most of our music classes are less than $12 per session, while private ­instruction usually runs around $50 per hour.” Most of NTC’s sessions are 12 weeks.

    “These are ridiculously low prices for top-notch lessons from professionals,” adds Overcash. “This is truly a labor of love for them and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people in ­northeastern Oklahoma to train with these talented instructors.”

    Besides Eicher, who teaches mandolin, fiddle and music theory, and Jae, a world-renowned fiddle player, other instructors include Ray Bingham, who has actively managed, produced and booked acts for over 50 years; Rick Morton, who teaches mandolin, fiddle and music theory and has years of experience as a professional musician; Spencer Sutton, who currently plays with Bob Wills Texas Playboys; Danny McBride, who currently plays with the Tulsa Playboys; Phillip Bostic, who teaches banjo and mandolin; and Scott Schmidt, who teaches mandolin.

    “The Roy Clark Music School is a great opportunity that I wish I had access to as I was growing up learning to play music,” says Eicher, who spent 10 years on “Hee Haw” and 15 years in the Roy Clark Band.

    The NTC campus is located at 1901 N. Hwy. 88 in Claremore, just north of Rogers State University. “You don’t have to live in Rogers County to attend classes here,” Overcash adds. “We have people who drive from all over northeastern Oklahoma as well as from Joplin and Arkansas.”

    Spring classes at the Roy Clark Music School are now enrolling. Call Northeast Technology Center’s Claremore campus at (918) 342-8066 or go to their website at www.netech.edu for more ­information. 

For more information, contact

Roy Clark Music School

(918) 342-8066

www.netech.edu