Biography

Harry Grainger Biography

I started playing clarinet in the school band at age six. My father was a musician, and he thought that playing in the school band would help me to overcome my extreme shyness. I remember my first music lesson. I really liked my teacher. He came to my house and helped to care for my clarinet and make some sounds on it. I thought that playing the clarinet was wonderful. Once in a while my mom would have to urge me to practice, but I was so drawn to playing the clarinet from the start that I would practice a lot on my own.

I was the youngest member of the grade school band, but my music lessons helped me to keep up with the older kids.  I had found a niche, and this helped me to open up to other students in the school and make friends.

I participated in Band through middle school and high school. In middle school I began studying saxophone and flute so I could play in the jazz band. As a high school junior and senior I also got the opportunity to play in the Denver University Concert Band and I was first chair in the Colorado All State Band and Orchestra.

I attended the University of Denver on a swimming scholarship as an accounting major and music minor. I was first clarinet in the 1st Infantry Army Band at Fort Meade, Maryland and thenI toured Europe as first chair flute in the Third Army Band based in Wurzburg, Germany. I was honorably discharged after a three year tour. I returned to the states and enrolled in Metropolitan

State College as a music performance major.

I started teaching and playing professionally during college and have done so ever since. In the course of my career I have performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra on clarinet and saxophone, on second clarinet with the Central City Opera, Andy’s a soloist for the Littleton and Jefferson Symphonies on clarinet and saxophone. I have performed on woodwinds for the Denver Center for the Arts and Humanities and the Denver Municipal Band. I have played shows at the Boulder Dinner Theater, The Country Dinner Playhouse, The Littleton Town Hall, Schwayder Theater, Lone Tree Arts Center, The Arvada Center, The Lakewood Arts Center, as with PHMALY (The Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League), and Magic Moments.

I have played professionally many styles of music (jazz, blues, pop, ethnic, klezmer, polkas) for clubs, parties, weddings, and concerts with the Benny Goodman Band, Tommy Dorsey Band, Jay Wieder Dance Orchestra, Moments Notice, Rave Reviews, and Ad Hoc Entertainment in big band, quartet, trio, and duo settings.

I have been featured on CDs for such artists as Mary Stribling, Georgeann Low, Neil Haverstick, Big Junior, Scott Smith, Martha Yordy, and Ben Cohen.

I also perform concerts and record with Combo Amazo, a band that plays original jazz, blues, bluegrass, and klezmer. We were featured on several NPR radio shows including E-town with Richie Havens. I lead a strolling duo on clarinet with guitar that played the Denver International Airport Concert Series for 20 years and is available for any event. 

I decided to teach because I wanted to share the enthusiasm and joy I have for music with students. I feel passionately about helping develop a child’s talents as a musician. I relate well to kids and can provide an atmosphere where kids are comfortable and motivated to learn. I also enjoy teaching adults.

I help the student build good fundamentals. I customize lessons to define and reach realistic goals and address students’ school Band needs or other musical activities. I respect students’ other interests and pursuits. I am an experienced professional musician well versed in woodwinds and a variety of styles. I can offer students a broad spectrum of musical knowledge. I can teach all levels from a young beginner to an adult professional. I have given clinics at many local high schools and I am a Band director for elementary bands for Opening Notes in Littleton. I  love to share my skills and expertise with