Senior guitar major Slade Robertson has wowed colleagues and professors by making his own handmade electric guitar with an at-home kit. The entire process took around 30 hours in total.
The making of the guitar included tools such as blue shoe leather dye to acquire the blue stain on the body of the guitar, a level to measure the fret board, sandpaper to sand down the frets and body and a file to round the frets.
Robertson is a very active member of UTM Music. He picked up double bass and joined the wind ensemble, although his primary instrument is guitar. He is also a gifted singer and songwriter.
Robertson is also the recipient of the 2020 615 Sings contest, a singing contest that highlights talented artists in the area. 615 Sings is part of the Tennessee Alliance for Kids; an organization that raises money for foster children.
During the competition, artists submit videos of them singing online and people are given the opportunity to submit one vote per one dollar amount donated towards the singer of their choice. The musician with the highest number of votes and donations wins.
Robertson is from Steele, Missouri. He is graduating UT Martin with his Bachelor of Arts in Music degree in May 2024. After graduating, he is traveling to Japan to study abroad. If he likes Japan, he is considering staying there and teaching English.
Otherwise, Robertson will then move to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue music performance in the area.
Robertson will be giving his senior project lecture on April 26th at 6:00 p.m. in the Blankenship Recital Hall in Fine Arts. The presentation will highlight the Japanese history of music and western influences covering from 13000 B.C. to present day.
