Meet Jim Hickey
Jim Hickey's music career started at age 6 with private percussion instruction. He then participated in theatre and played various musical instruments, and played a lot of competitive sports (Hockey, Boxing, Soccer, Track and Field), before deciding to focus on the Electric Bass and Guitar. Early gigs, included playing clubs and school dances and backyard parties. In college, weekend house party's, Battle of the Bands, and clubs with "The Crashers" provided extra money while he was working toward his BS in Communications. While in college Jim also was involved as an ensemble percussionist with the dance troupe Sankofa. Upon graduating from college, Jim worked as an office manager for a small record label in Western New York and played in a couple regional bands as a bassist and vocalist. During the summer months, Jim instructed in the Music and Arts department at Rotary Sunshine Camp which is a summer camp for disabled children in Rush NY. For several years, Jim's business experiences expanded as an award winning Regional Sales Manager in the food service industry while continuing his music career as a weekend performer and worked Part-Time in administration for MARS Music Learning Center in Charlotte. However, feeling the burnout effects of the corporate world, Jim turned back to his passion for music and performance. A tribute band tour made him realize the need to balance family and music. It was then he returned to music instruction full time.
BUSINESS:
Jim privately teaches over 60 students a week in private and group formats in beginner/intermediate guitar,
bass guitar, general music theory and computer recording.
Jim self-published a Bass Instruction Method Book and continually composes and records Jam Tracks in his home studio. The purpose of these tracks is to be used as a study aide for aspiring guitarists and bassists to practice their soloing skills.
VOLUNTEER WORK:
Jim participates both as an exhibitor and speaker at middle school career fairs
where he discusses career paths in
the music industry and performs for the students.
Jim perform regularly with two local churches and works with local scout troops that need assistance to qualify for music arts badges.
ENDORSEMENTS:
DR STRINGS, InTune Guitar Picks and ACOUSTICA/MIXCRAFT
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE:
Jim has played hundreds of gigs. He has been fortunate to play at several major (and minor) live music venues and community
festivals in the Charlotte, NC area since relocating here in 2000. This has included two (2)
performances at the annual Speed Street event, several St. Patrick's Day
Celebrations and private corporate events as well as nightclubs. Jim has performed with Pat DiNizio
on his living room tour
and been an opening act on big stages for major bands like Matthew Sweet,
Better than Ezra, REO Speedwagon and others. Jim works frequently as an
on-call bassist for several regional acts and is a regular performer at two large local churches
including Church Retreats and services.
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS:
"Music takes up a majority of my time however when I put the instruments
down I enjoy keeping up with and relaxing with my family, watching NFL and Boxing, reading,
and engaging in Wii Sports tournaments with my wife and kids.
My wife and I are working on a book we hope to self-publish soon. We will either call it "...Said The Angry Lady" or "The Great Big Book Of Duh". It contains our conversations with each other, our kids, and insights on life according to us. It's been a slow process but it's been really fun working on that with her and bouncing ideas around and making each other laugh. It's target audience is anybody who wants to think and anybody who likes to laugh.
