Alan Bishop鈥檚 lifelong passion for music began when he received his first guitar at 15 years old. Drawn to the instrument鈥檚 sound, he quickly developed an affection for music and envisioned himself becoming a music teacher. Even as he journeyed across the globe, his love for music traveled with him.
After high school, Bishop enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 2002 and was stationed in Texas and Germany, where he worked on power generators. Wherever he was deployed, he made sure music remained part of his life.
鈥淚 really enjoyed my time in the Air Force, and having my guitar on me was nonnegotiable,鈥 said Bishop. While stationed in Germany, he spent much of his free time playing in the barracks for his fellow airmen. He later formed a band with other Air Force members who worked at the power plant. The band, appropriately named Kilowatt, grew in popularity as they played covers of multiple songs.
After serving for six years, Bishop retired from the Air Force in 2008 and enrolled at Moraine Valley the following summer. He brought prior college credits from his military service and took multiple guitar classes while attending Moraine Valley. It was during this time that he discovered an interest in jazz music and further developed his skills as a musician. Moraine Valley also helped him build a foundation that allowed him to progress academically. Bishop later transferred to Chicago State University, where he earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in music education in 2013. After graduation, he finally was able to pursue his goal of becoming a music teacher.
Today, Bishop works as a general music teacher at two south suburban elementary schools, teaching students from kindergarten through fifth grade. He also teaches private lessons and small group classes at the Beverly Arts Center. While he enjoys teaching group classes, he prefers one鈥憃n鈥憃ne instruction, enjoying the musical connections he builds with his students.
Bishop is passionate about helping students learn and grow with music. He takes pride in showing students new skills and watching their confidence develop. 鈥淚 hope my students look back on their music classes and feel they were given every opportunity to be inspired,鈥 Bishop said.
An advocate for the arts, Bishop volunteers at various Chicago-area arts events and has been a musical director for many local plays. One of his bands, Analog Chain, performed at the Moraine Valley Car Show in 2019. He also is active in Oak Lawn Scouting, where his two children are involved. Besides his love of music, he is an artist; his paintings are featured in the college鈥檚 Community Art Exhibition and at the Beverly Arts Center. He has supported the Moraine Valley Foundation by donating paintings to the Gateways Gala and Employee Giving Campaign auctions.
Outside of teaching, Bishop continues to enjoy music by collecting guitars and playing whenever he can, from entertaining neighbors on his front porch to professional gigs in large theaters 鈥 his love for music is part of his everyday life. For Bishop, music is more than teaching a class; it inspires a joy he hopes can change his students鈥 lives. After all, it changed his.
