Rock star professor: A long, windy road finally led him to his passion
Shayna McQuinn
Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: People
Heavin participated in rodeo professionally for six years, until he was drafted and went to Vietnam. Being wounded in the war and not able to go back to rodeoing, he decided to begin performing.
"It was Spanish music that lead me to playing the guitar," Heavin said. "When I first heard a classical guitarist perform, that's when I decided that it was my passion. Spanish music is the greatest music in the world. The culture is so rich. It drives my soul. It gives me goose bumps."
One night, Heavin was performing for the Guitar Society while in college at Southwest Missouri University in Springfield, Mo. In the audience was a professional guitarist who represented Spain, called the Maestro. He enjoyed Heavin's performance and invited him to his home.
"I played at the Maestro's house for four hours," Heavin said. "He told me that when he would return to Spain, he would send me a bunch of music to learn. I worked on all of it, and he came back to the United States to spend 10 days mentoring me."
At the end of his trip, the Maestro gave him a proposal. He offered to study with him for free if he would live in Spain.
"I was in Spain by the following spring with a scholarship," Heavin said. "I loved Spain. I was the Maestro's protégé and went to daily lessons. The Maestro taught me how to really play the guitar. He gave me inspiration. I got advice every day. He was like a father to me."
After six months of lessons, Heavin and the Maestro began touring and performing duets on stage. They performed in Europe, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas and Spain. He also learned how to play Flamenco, and often played for dancers. After he returned for graduate school, he began touring on his own.
"I traveled all of the time," Heavin said. "I did a bunch of recordings for other people. I played with Mulberry Lane for their demo in Nashville. But when my daughter was a year old, I decided to stop traveling."
Heavin began touring locally. He was offered trips to play in Australia and was even given money and studio space to make a record. Traveling was no longer appealing to Heavin by then.
"It was Spanish music that lead me to playing the guitar," Heavin said. "When I first heard a classical guitarist perform, that's when I decided that it was my passion. Spanish music is the greatest music in the world. The culture is so rich. It drives my soul. It gives me goose bumps."
One night, Heavin was performing for the Guitar Society while in college at Southwest Missouri University in Springfield, Mo. In the audience was a professional guitarist who represented Spain, called the Maestro. He enjoyed Heavin's performance and invited him to his home.
"I played at the Maestro's house for four hours," Heavin said. "He told me that when he would return to Spain, he would send me a bunch of music to learn. I worked on all of it, and he came back to the United States to spend 10 days mentoring me."
At the end of his trip, the Maestro gave him a proposal. He offered to study with him for free if he would live in Spain.
"I was in Spain by the following spring with a scholarship," Heavin said. "I loved Spain. I was the Maestro's protégé and went to daily lessons. The Maestro taught me how to really play the guitar. He gave me inspiration. I got advice every day. He was like a father to me."
After six months of lessons, Heavin and the Maestro began touring and performing duets on stage. They performed in Europe, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas and Spain. He also learned how to play Flamenco, and often played for dancers. After he returned for graduate school, he began touring on his own.
"I traveled all of the time," Heavin said. "I did a bunch of recordings for other people. I played with Mulberry Lane for their demo in Nashville. But when my daughter was a year old, I decided to stop traveling."
Heavin began touring locally. He was offered trips to play in Australia and was even given money and studio space to make a record. Traveling was no longer appealing to Heavin by then.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Sandra Griffith
posted 9/05/07 @ 6:01 PM CST
Shayna, What a good job! I am so proud of you. When was your other story?
Kyle Dean
posted 7/17/08 @ 11:20 PM CST
Bill Sedat... What A Great Guy!!!
Kyle Dean
posted 7/17/08 @ 11:26 PM CST
bill-sedat.blogspot.com
Post a Comment