Central Oklahoma Homeschool Bands

COHB Conductors

Mr. Tom Rye, Director

Mr. Tom Rye has been involved in instrumental music most of his life. He has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master of History degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. With 21 years' experience in public band programs, Mr. Rye has worked in every facet of this arena, 5th grade through high school, and has personally participated in a number of university, professional, and church orchestra programs. He is also a charter member of the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony. Mr. Rye has five grown children (three of whom have home schooled their children) as well as 19 grandchildren. He loves working with students and watching them grow in their God-given musical abilities.

Mr. David Bellows

Mr. Bellows graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1994 with bachelor's degrees in music education. While attending OU, David studied trumpet with Dr. Jacob Larson and performed in the University Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band. Mr. Bellows has been a director of the Central Oklahoma Home School Band since Spring of 2003. Prior to this he taught for 8 years in the Tuttle, Chickasha, and Midwest City Public Schools. He has experience teaching beginning, middle school, and high school bands, jazz band, and general elementary music classes. In addition to teaching band, Mr. Bellows teaches private trumpet lessons, performs in the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony, and enjoys being involved in the music ministry at Emmaus Baptist Church. Through his experiences, he has acquired a life-long love for music and enjoys sharing the gift of music with his students. He and his wife Heather live in Moore and have three children, Sarah, Blake, and Hope.

Mr. Ben Fast, Co-Director

Mr. Fast is a graduate of Southern Nazarene University with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. He also earned a Master of Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. Mr. Fast has taught in the public schools for 28 years: four years in Bethany, eight years in Putnam City, eleven years in Maysville, and then back in Putnam City for five years. Mr. Fast has four children: one married daughter, two daughters attending Southern Nazarene, and a son who is a freshman at Putnam City High School.In addition to teaching band, Mr Fast directs the hand-bell choir at his church and plays clarinet in a clarinet quartet. He also repairs band instruments. Mr. Fast is looking forward to directing the bands in the northern part of our state.

Mr.James Copeland, Co-Director

Mr. Copeland graduated from East Central State College in 1972, with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. He taught public school music including everything from elementary music to high school band for 36 years. He plays French horn in the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony, and has performed with various church and community orchestras. He is the founder of Arbuckle Brass, a brass quintet. He is very active in the music ministry of Northwest Baptist Church in Ardmore where he and his wife, Shirley, have lived since 1977. He believes there is no better music an individual can be part of than that which honors God and Jesus Christ.