Originally from Cape Girardeau, MO, John R. Hearnes is an Associate Band Director at Oakland Middle School in Rutherford County, TN. He has taught middle school since 2001. Mr. Hearnes received his BME from Middle Tennessee State University in 2001 studying under Lalo Davila. He also earned a Master of Education in Classroom Instruction from Bryan College and an EdS in Principalship from Arkansas State University. Considered a total percussionist, Mr. Hearnes finds himself at home on all aspects of percussion, including snare drum, timpani, mallets, drum set, Latin percussion, marching percussion, and world percussion. An avid composer and arranger, Mr. Hearnes currently has over 100 publications with Row-Loff Productions, including both marching and concert literature. He is the author of The Mallet Player’s Toolbox, a beginning method book by RLP. He is an Innovative Percussion and Mapex/Majestic artist. Mr. Hearnes has presented sessions at the 2014 NAfME National In-Service Conference, the 2013 and 2015 ASBDA Region V conferences, and at district and state conventions in TN, MO, and KY. Along with co-presenter David England, Mr. Hearnes presented at the prestigious Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in 2019. Mr. Hearnes lives in Murfreesboro, TN, with his wife and two sons.