• 36 years playing experience; piano, digital & analog synthesizers, organ. • 26 years professional performance experience including national touring & recording. • 16 years private instruction experience at beginner, intermediate & advanced levels. • 3 years education at Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA. • Exceptional piano/keyboard improvisational skills including chart reading. • Lead sheet & chart reading, transcription, arranging & theory analysis. • Orchestral, large & small band transcription, arranging and parts copying/preparation. • Human relations skills (common courtesy, tact, interest in positive problem solving, empathy and logical organization of ideas). • Inspirational, motivational and energetic leader and instructor. • Efficient, organized, and detail-oriented. • Multi-tasking and problem-solving skills. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Jan. 1992 – Present Professional Musician, Pianist/Keyboardist, Transcriptionist, Instructor, Business Manager. Minneapolis, MN • Accompanied local and national artists in clubs, corporate events, wedding receptions, private events and other professional venues, playing classic, progressive and alternative rock, straight-ahead and freeform jazz, blues, funk, R&B, soul, reggae, motown, disco, country, pop and improvisational idioms. (See “Artists List” below) • Provided solo piano for restaurants, bars, weddings, private and corporate events. • Instructed adult students in private lesson for piano, organ and synthesizer. • Recorded, performed and toured nationally & internationally. (See “Artists List” below) • Transcribed contemporary guitar and piano music for publication and professional use. (See “Publications” below) • Created and developed music instructional articles and books. (See “Publications” below) • Composed and produced music for television, radio, video and broadcast. Nov. 7 – 10, 1991 Keyboards, Sound Effects, Vocal Rehearsal Director “Zappa’s Universe” 25th Year Celebration, The Ritz, NYC, NY • Performed with Dweezil Zappa, Steve Vai, Scott Thunes, Mike Keneally, Dale Bozzio, Rockapella, The Persuasions and others for four sold-out shows. • Played Keyboards on Grammy Award-winning CD and Video Release from PolyGram/Verve International. • Developed full-score transcriptions from original recordings of Frank Zappa. • Prepared parts for 30-piece orchestra and rock band of dozens of Zappa compositions. • Rehearsal Director for vocal groups Rockapella & The Persuasions. 1990 – 1993 Music for Picture Composer/Producer Multiple Production Houses, Twin Cities, MN & Chedd-Angier Productions, Boston, MA • Composed and produced soundtrack and incidental music for broadcast on PBS Television, Corporate, Industrial and show room videos. (Clients included Nordictrack, Ecolab, Health Partners, Minnesota Mutual Insurance, and Crestliner Boats). 1992-1993 Music Transcriptionist Harris Publications, New York, NY • Produced manuscript and tablature of contemporary guitar music for publication in Guitar World Magazine available in music stores worldwide. (See “Publications” below) 1990 – 1992 Music Transcriptionist and Writer • Produced manuscript, tablature and written analysis of contemporary guitar music for publication in “Guitar School” & “Guitar for the Practicing Musician” magazines, as well as various instructional music books available in music stores worldwide. (See “Publications” below) EDUCATION 1987-1991 Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA Major: Professional Music Minor: Ear Training, Music Synthesis, and Transcription 1986 Normandale Community College, Bloomington, MN Studies: Music Theory 1985 Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights, MN Studies: Music Notation 1985 Film In The Cities, St. Paul, MN Studies: Analog Multi-track Recording 1985 Burnsville Senior High School, Burnsville, MN Diploma 1980-1982 MacPhail School of Music, Minneapolis, MN Private Piano Instruction SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Guitar World & Guitar School, Harris Publications – 1991 • “Suite Judy Blue Eyes,” – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Guitar Transcription • “Rock This Town,” “Stray Cat Strut” – The Stray Cats – Guitar Transcription Society Pages International – 1989 – 1990 • Not Necessarily For Musicians Only, Vol. I – Essays on the Technical Aspects of Frank Zappa’s Music • Not Necessarily For Musicians Only, Vol. II – Essays on the Technical Aspects of Frank Zappa’s Music Cherry Lane Music Company – 1989 • “Storm Troopers of Death – Speak English or Die – Songs and Analysis” SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY • Chris Opperman – No Memories, Please – (2005, cd, usa. Purple Cow Records) • Chris Opperman – Concepts of Non-Linear Time (2004, cd, usa. Purple Cow Records) • Steve Vai – Mystery Tracks – Archives Vol. III – (2003, cd, usa, europe, asia, Favored Nations) • Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins – Dancing With Myself – Live & Acoustic at the Baked Potato - (2001, cd, usa, Europe, Exowax Records) • Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins – Dancing – (2000, cd, usa, Europe, Exowax Records) • Various Artists – Choice Morsels - incl. various zappa band alumni performing frank zappa's compositions - (1993, cd, usa, nl, PolyGram/Verve) • Torture Time Vol. I – A Sampler of Frank Zappa’s Music Compact Disc – (1992, cd, usa, europe, Muffin Records) • Various Artists: Zappa’s Universe – A Celebration of 25 Years of Frank Zappa’s Music (1993, cd, nl, PolyGram/verve 513575-2) - 1990 - Grammy Award Winner 1990 – Best Rock Instrumental – Steve Vai, Performer. ARTISTS LIST (Performed Live, Recorded and/or Toured with the following) Big Bob Scoggin Big Walter Smith Boogie Wonderland Bruce Heny Cash McCall Charmin Michelle Cynthia Johnson (Lips, Inc.) Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum) Debbie Duncan Dennis Spears (Moore By Four) Dr. Mambo’s Combo Gordon Johnson (Chuck Mangione) Gordy Knudtson (Steve Miller Band) Greazy Meal Hiram Bullock (Jaco Pastorius, David Letterman) Joe Puerta (Ambrosia, Bruce Hornsby) Jonny Lang Kurt Neumann (The BoDeans) Mark Ledford (Pat Metheny) Michael Bland, Sonny Thompson, Mike Scott, Kurt Johnson, The Horn Headz (Prince & the NPG) Mick Sterling and the Studd Brothers Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai) Nick D’Virgillio (Spock’s Beard, Tears for Fears) Otis Clay Phil Solem (The Rembrandts) Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie) Steve Vai Syl Johnson The R-Factor Tony Maiden (Chaka Kahn) Vernon Reid (Living Color) Wain McFarlane (Ipso Facto)