My musical training began in the third grade where I quickly realized that music was my passion. I focused on both piano and oboe. Other than 4th-8th grade I was home schooled. This gave me time to pursue my creativity. These interests included computer animation, programming 2D video games, drawing, music composition, and cardboard sculpture.
Benjamin Killebrew
During my freshman year of high school I played in the Home School Band’s Wind Ensemble, the Oklahoma Youth Symphony, the Oklahoma Youth Wind Symphony, and I had the opportunity to play in my senior year with the Orchestra and Wind Ensemble at the University of Central Oklahoma. I was also fortunate to attend summer camps at Quartz Mountain’s Summer Arts Institute and at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. After graduating from high school, I received a scholarship to attend Oklahoma City University where I am currently a student majoring in Oboe Performance.
My life with Emit began in 2006 when I joined to play keyboard. Other than the initial piano lessons, my keyboard education has been self-taught. I upgraded my basic keyboard to a Roland Juno-D, which I love. Its light weight makes it easy to throw around and it has great music capability. I later added a custom painted Casio to connect to my MacBook. Running Reason Soft Synth software has really added to my sonic variety.
Future additions to my stage rig include an Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI) and a newly designed instrument. The EWI will allow me to incorporate all the training that I have had with oboe, and add some very unique musicality not seen in the pop genre. My sister has coined the name “ElectrOboe” to describe it. The new instrument that I am designing came about from my inability to move freely on stage. I like the keytar, but it wasn’t for me, so I came up with an alternative. It is a touch sensitive potentiometer that is mounted to a wooden piece shaped like the blade of a short sword. I call it the “Synthblade.”
- Benjamin Killebrew
Live Rig
Roland Juno-D
Casio concertmate as a MIDI controller
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Macbook running Reason 4.0
Asesis 8 channel mixer for balancing all the instruments
Akai’s Electronic Wind Controller (the Electroboe)
Synth Blade
