McKay Tebbs
Director, Music Tech/Assistant Professor, Music | Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT, UNITED STATES
Specializes in commercial music and recording.
Biography
Jazz guitarist Mckay Tebbs lives in Cedar City, Utah where he is helping to launch a Commercial Music program at Southern Utah University. Tebbs specializes in crafting original interpretations of jazz standards and pop/rock music. His original songs are melodic and memorable, while his ability to improvise over his own accompaniments sets him apart as an outstanding guitarist.
Tebbs enjoys getting out of his office to share his music with the people in his community. In the past, he has traveled to different school music programs and strengthened them by offering instruction and donating new guitars. Tebbs relates, “I had a man come into my office one day and introduce himself as Dave Caswell. He said that he loved building guitars, and wanted to get them into the hands of students to play. After talking with him, I agreed to bring his guitars to the schools that I visited. It wasn’t long before we ran out of guitars. It was a great experience for me to be able to give back something to these schools to support them in their work.”
Originally from Utah, Tebbs began playing the guitar at age 12 and was teaching people in his hometown by the time he was 17. It was during that time that he discovered Berklee College of Music from which he eventually graduated with honors. During performances, Tebbs talks with the audience about the importance of building dreams and gaining an education to help make those dreams come true. He shares personal experiences from his own life to inspire others to work hard and dream big.
Tebbs has earned a doctorate degree from the USC Thornton School of Music and has taught thousands of guitar lessons to students of all styles and levels. He has performed with Theater West of Scottsbluff, Ne and was a special guest performer on the Nebraska Public Radio show Friday Live. Tebbs was a featured soloist in the contemporary guitar concerto Chaos Theory by James Bonney and has performed with many different jazz and pop artists.
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Industry Expertise (3)
Music
Education/Learning
Entertainment
Areas of Expertise (5)
Music Education
Recording
Jazz Guitar
Commercial Music
Music Theory
Education (3)
Berklee College of Music: BA, Professional Music 2006
University of Southern California: MA, Studio/Jazz Guitar 2012
University of Southern California: PhD, Studio/Jazz Guitar 2016
Links (3)
Languages (2)
- English
- Portuguese
Media Appearances (5)
Keeping in tune with what is to come from the music department
SUU News online
2024-02-06
Later in the month, Alternate Currents, a commercial music ensemble directed by McKay Tebbs, was accepted to perform at the 2024 National Association of Music Merchants show in Anaheim, California, on Jan. 26. This performance took place on the main outdoor stage in front of thousands of people.
Music Professor Builds Foundations for Students' Dreams
SUU News online
2023-06-14
In the fall of 2022, Dr. McKay Tebbs launched the new Commercial Music program at SUU, and the program has already made its mark on the music community. His students have had an eventful first year, from winning the Thunder 91 Battle of the Bands to booking gigs in Springdale and even attending the National Association of Music Merchants Trade Show in Anaheim, California. Though the program has only been up and running for less than a year, the foundations for its success were laid over twenty years ago by Dr. Tebbs and the support he was given to pursue his dreams.
Commercial Music Program Gains Real-World Experience at NAMM
SUU News online
2023-05-15
This spring, Dr. McKay Tebbs and his undergraduate students in the Commercial Music program attended the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Trade Show in Anaheim, California. They were able to network with professionals in the music industry, meet some of their musician heroes, win equipment, play alongside SUU alumni, and even perform an original song.
Introducing...Commercial Music: A Pop Concert
SUU News online
2023-02-08
“I have been looking forward to this concert for over a year now, as it’s the first concert at SUU to feature Commercial Music students,” shares the program’s director, Dr. McKay Tebbs. “These students have worked hard to learn the music and prepare for success, and it will be wonderful to see it all come to life on the big stage in the Heritage Center Theater. I love working with these students and helping them to realize their potential.”
Dr. McKay Tebbs Appointed as Director of Undergraduate Music Technology at SUU
SUU News online
2021-09-14
The Department of Music at Southern Utah University (SUU) is honored and delighted to welcome Dr. McKay Tebbs as the Director of Undergraduate Music Technology. He will teach classes in commercial music and recording. For the last 6 years, Dr. Tebbs has been living in Chadron, Nebraska where he directed the guitar studio and Music Industry program at Chadron State College. He has helped his students engage in the music industry by setting up internships for them and taking them to the NAMM show in Anaheim, CA.
Event Appearances (3)
Guitar Time with McKay Tebbs
Bumbleberry Inn 897 Zion Park Blvd , Springdale
2023-07-08
Shawn Mckay Tebbs
Faculty Duo Concert With Dr. Lynn Vartan Cedar City
2022-03-22
Shawn Mckay Tebbs
SUU Faculty Recital Cedar City
2022-02-15
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