Happy International Tuba Day!

I can’t begin to tell you how amazing this day (Friday) has been for me as a freelance musician, as a small business owner, and as a human being. The video shoot this morning for the C4’s tenth anniversary was pretty awesome for me. I was respected and showcased by a producing team of two amazing women. I wore my ACMF shirt and played music written by local composer, Eric Alexander. I truly wanted to support and represent our musicians and other artists throughout Metro Atlanta. I achieved what I wanted and left the project inspired for the next one.
This evening I received an official SBA-PPP loan from Bank of America...I am set for the summer! I can’t thank my tax accountant, Donald McAllister, enough for helping me receive my first small business loan for my S Corporation, The Flythe Group, Inc. He has been an incredible mentor to me as well, and I will never forget how much he has done for me since 2007. So, I am pumped, excited, and full of bliss. I have shared my joys, triumphs, lows, and frustrations to show that WE can persevere through ANYTHING. Thank you, my family, my friends, my students, and my colleagues for believing in me and for loving me unconditionally!!

Hope you enjoy my video diary from March 25th:

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Life As a Tuba Player During a Pandemic

I can't believe it has been more than 2 years since I have posted on my blog. Everyone on the planet is dealing with the coronavirus epidemic, otherwise know as COVID-19. I am grateful to say that I have continued evolving as a professional freelance tuba artist-teacher and a small businessman during this tough period.

I am celebrating my 12th year as founder and owner of The Flythe Group, Inc. I can't thank my tax accountant, Donald McAllister, enough for encouraging me in 2008 to incorporate myself and take advantage of being an S Corporation. If things work out, I will receive a Payment Protection Program (PPP) loan from the Small Business Association (SBA) to help keep my business afloat during the crisis. I am also looking forward to updating and improving my website with the help of Nicole Riccardo (https://www.nicolericcardo.com/).

With regards to my teaching and performance opportunities, I have been successful in receiving offers to teach online lessons, record music for high school concert band programs and local churches, and teach online seminars/classes. I never thought I would use digital technology and virtual means to continue my career in music; however, dealing with a deadly disease has caused everyone to rethink and recreate their "new" normal.

I look forward to my move to Houston in late July/early August; I visited the city in February and realized that my heart was ready for a major change in my life. I plan to teach at some of the top high school band programs in the state as well as work on making connections with the freelancing community in metropolitan Houston. I will certainly miss my colleagues, my friends, my students, and my family when I leave the beautiful city of Atlanta, GA.

Please stay safe and healthy during this difficult time; we will get through this crisis. Please continue to live your life to the fullest. #stay home

One should never be ashamed by his or her pursuit of a dream

One should never be ashamed by his or her pursuit of a dream, craft, profession, etc. My philosophy is to unabashedly and unapologetically follow a dream until it is realized. As I celebrate my achievements throughout this path of musical discovery, I always want to help others achieve their dreams, too. Nicole Chamberlain is an amazing person who doesn’t look for much fanfare when tackling her daily workload; she is quietly brilliant and helps other reach their potential in subtle ways. Thanks to her words, I have been inspired to improve my website, focus on my small business practices and approaches, and try new ventures with my business. I am writing my first blog entry, creating Wikipedia biographical entries for great low brass artist-teachers, etc. Nicole, thank you for everything you have done to help my career. My first attempt at writing a blog entry is a tribute to you. From one entrepreneur to a host of others on this vast and beautiful planet, I think the world should know more about you and your work. As I explore topics to discuss weekly, I look forward to sharing my love for entrepreneurship, small business ownership, freelancing, teaching, and performing. Nicole, thank you for challenging me to stay on my journey and to fulfill my true passion to someday play full-time with a major symphony orchestra.