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Learn More About Patrick's Experience:

general computer I have had a career in the computer field for over 30 years, initially in mainframe computers, and also with personal computers and distributed computing since the early 90's. I am therefore well qualified to teach general computer concepts, as well as programming, database, and some desktop software products. general music I have been involved with music as a student and as a hobby since the 3rd grade. I studied piano thru high school, and continued to practice on my own for years afterward. I understand the basic Western musical concepts, including elementary harmony, rhythm, etc. I also played trombone and then played French horn thru high school, playing in the citywide youth orchestra, and later attended a welll-respected summer music program and festival, earning my expenses as a student employee. I sang in our well-known college choir, participating in several tours, which took us as far as Chicago, Florida, Washington, DC, and Houston. I have sung in church choirs and for several years sang with an area-wide men's chorale. More recently I have taken part for a number of years in a Southern Gospel quartet, which further developed my flexibility of style as well as my musical ear, as I often have to come up with my own vocal part. It would be my pleasure to assist a student with development of their general musical knowledge. grammar Grammar and syntax have long been one of my interests. I greatly enjoyed diagramming sentences in high school English class, taking four years of Latin in high school followed by a 3rd-year course in college, plus two years of college-level French. I discuss grammar and usage-related topics frequently with family, and with others when they seem interested. I would be quite comfortable assisting a student to grasp principles of English grammar and practice their speaking or writing skills. proofreading I have always had a great attention to detail when reading the written word, and often find typographical and other errors that have escaped writers and editors. I was a county (and once, nearly the regional) champion speller in the 5th and 6th grades. I have had to proofread my own papers through college, plus documents that I have written in the course of my career. I have also at times proofread papers for others. Although I do not have formal training in proofreading, I am sure I could guide a student in this area, and stay well enough ahead of them to teach any special techniques that may be new to me.