Ryan Howe

I taught jazz and classical music at a community college in Creston, IA, for a decade before joining the touring jazz vocal group, The Four Freshmen. I toured with them for almost 5 years as the bass player and lead singer before stepping down after symptoms stemming from multiple sclerosis ultimately interfered with my ability to play bass and made touring too taxing. Now I'm desperate to find my place in a new career that values someone with a strong sense of professionalism, a decade of experience handling a wide variety of administrative tasks, and great people skills.

From 2009-2014 and 2016-2022, I taught a variety of jazz and classical courses at a well-respected music program at Southwestern Community College. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I had a lot of administrative duties, as our small community college program was trying to compete with 4-year universities for students, and with no school-wide support staff we had to go the extra mile to do the kind of things they did. I booked and led anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks of music tours each year.

I oversaw the recording studio and all of the technology at the school. I also oversaw the music program's Work Study program, developed and implemented two new courses through the curriculum committee process, and handled the extensive Program Evaluation process for the school.

In my third year with the Four Freshmen, I started working as a handyman to have a second job that I could work around an irregular touring schedule. Since leaving the band in July, I've been paying the bills with the handyman job while finishing some renovations at home. Now I'm looking for something more regular again, but most traditional music teaching jobs, my true wheelhouse, are not on the table anymore with the complications of my MS.

Basically, I have scarring on my spine and median nerves that leaves my hands with a lot of regular numbness, and I can't really play any instruments anymore. That being said, I am still good with computer keyboard work (thankfully) as it is not as physically demanding as piano, guitar, bass, saxophone, etc.

I received a bachelor's in music performance from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. In 2014, I left teaching in Iowa to attend the University of North Texas to get my master's in jazz studies. I would say that the majority of the relevant skills I have to offer outside of teaching music were gained on the job as a teacher.