John R. Hearnes

John R. Hearnes (lovingly known at RLP as “Chime Boy”) received his first pair of drumsticks in 1989 when he joined band in Cape Girardeau, MO. He studied percussion under Mark McHale and Mark Ellison. After graduating from Central High School, John studied at Southeast Missouri State University under Dr. Daniel Dunavan, then earned a BME from Middle Tennessee State University where he studied under Lalo Davila, David Brochocki, Andy Smith, and Dr. Julie Hill. It was through Lalo Davila that John met Chris Crockarell and Chris Brooks from Row-Loff Productions. He began arranging and composing for RLP in 2002. Although his works cover the spectrum of difficulty, John has focused on increasing the amount of literature written for young players, especially beginners.

John is currently a middle school band director in Rutherford County, TN, a job he has held since 2001. He has a Master’s in Education from Bryan College, and an EdS in Education. He was selected, along with colleague David England, to present percussion pedagogy at the 2019 Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference.

John endorses Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets and Mapex/Majestic percussion instruments. John is a composer, performer, educator, clinician, adjudicator, and most importantly, still a student on all facets of percussion. He lives in Murfreesboro, TN, with his wife and their two sons.