About Carl Hammer
I was born and grew up in Santa Monica. My parents tell me that from the time I was an infant I enjoyed listening to music, especially paying attention to Handel's Messiah. I began studying piano with my grandmother when I was five, and I continue to perform on the piano and pipe organ.
I began trombone the summer before fourth grade - the starting year for instrumental music in the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District. My parents used to take me to watch the old El Primero Band Review on Ocean Boulevard. When I was asked which instrument I wanted to play, I assertively replied trombone - because they are always in front.
My most influential music teachers were Lida Beasley at John Adams Junior High School (and later with the orchestra at the high school) and Jim Hile at Santa Monica High School. They were both exceptional teachers who inspired students to achieve outstanding musical performance, and exceptional character development.
Along the way, I studied dance - tap, jazz and ballet. I studied tap dance for many years with Jan Maddis - an old vaudville dancer. Later, in college, I studied ballroom - American, Latin and Modern Styles. I performed on formation teams with the BYU Ballroom Dance Program.
I completed my BMA in Music Education at Brigham Young University where I prepared to teach under the supervision of Dr. Don L. Peterson. I continued my trombone studies with Daniel Bachelder.
I enjoy teaching music to students of all ages and levels of ability - from students in elementary school all the way through students studying at the university level. I completed my student teaching in the Alpine and Provo school districts. I taught junior high school in the Alpine School District, middle and high school in the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District, and college - as a graduate teaching assistant at Brigham Young University and the University of Southern California and as the band director at Santa Monica College.
I completed my MM and DMA in Trombone Performance at the University of Southern California under the instruction of Dr. Terry Cravens. I continue to study and perform on the trombone.
I am married to Jennifer Merrick Hammer, and have two children. My son, Jared, has become very accomplished on the trombone. I like to say that my daughter, Madeleine, is bi-lingual . . . she speaks both orchestra and band! She studies both violin and trumpet. I work with both of my children on their instruments, including work on piano and organ.
I am available to adjudicate marching band competitions, as well as concert band and orchestra festivals. I am pleased to prepare music compositions and arrangements, as well as visual programs for any performing ensemble .