Counting Crows was formed when singer/songwriter Adam Duritz was introduced by musician Dave Immergluck to guitarist Dave Bryson, at the time a veteran of a San Francisco band called Mr. Dog. The name Counting Crows comes from an old English divination rhyme. Guitarist Dan Vickery, bassist Matt Malley, drummer Ben Mize, and organist Charlie Gillingham fill out the rest of the seven-member band.

Music in Schools Today (MuST) interviewed Dave Bryson about his experiences and his views on the music business.

MuST
What is the earliest musical or creative experience you can recall?

Dave
When I was 16, my friends and I would get together in a garage to jam. We would play Neil Young and Grateful Dead songs, and just jam on stuff we made up for hours. We must have driven the guy's parents nuts.

MuST
Your funniest?

Dave
This mishap was not particularly funny at the time. It was more like full panic. But years later, we all laugh about it. We were playing one of our earlier gigs at a club in San Francisco called The DNA Lounge. Halfway into the show, our drummer misread the set list and counted off the wrong song. Half the band started to play the song from the set list and the other half started to play the song the drummer counted off. It was a huge train wreck. We ended up playing the wrong song in the key of the song we were supposed to play. Four minutes later, we were all scratching our heads, trying to figure out what had happened.

MuST
Your fondest?

Dave
One of my fondest musical moments came in 1994 when we were on tour with the Rolling Stones. It was the last gig of the tour, and it was raining. The Stones' gear all fit under the cover of the stage, but we had to set up in front of their gear, so we were mostly out in the rain. Before the gig, we were all disappointed that our last show with the Stones was going to be in the rain. It turned out to be a magical moment. The band played its butt off. It was definitely the best show of the tour.

MuST
Do you think music and art should be taught in the schools?

Dave
Students are not exposed to enough variety in classes. It is through subjects like music and art that people can learn to tap into their creativity. In addition to exposure to different subjects, students need to be shown that they can pursue their passions.

It was not until I was in college that I realized that I could study anything I wanted. So I started taking classes just because they sounded exciting. I pursued a career in music for the same reason. Music was something I could get excited about. Too many people are unhappy in their lives because they don't enjoy what they do.

MuST
Was there an important person in your life who provided a positive influence on your involvement with music?

Dave
My father, who doesn't have a musical bone in his body, inspired me to pursue a career in music. He started his own business 20 years ago and loves what he does. At 69, he occasionally talks about retirement, but he never will because he likes what he does too much. It was this passion that made me realize the importance of enjoying what you do.

MuST
What advice would you give to young people seeking a career in the music business?

Dave
The music business is very competitive. There are a lot of people trying to make a living playing music, and very few actually succeed. That said, songwriters and musicians represent only a small percentage of the careers within the music industry.

Five years before we started Counting Crows, I decided to give up trying to play guitar, and pursue a career in recording engineering and production. I found this work to be just as fulfilling as playing music.

It was while I was recording with other people that I met Adam, and we started writing and recording songs. One thing led to another, and Counting Crows started to take off, so I had to give up engineering to be a full-time guitarist.

The point here is that there are many ways to become involved in the music business. Try to keep an open mind and go through open doors.