As Associate Professor, Jerry has been a member of the music faculty at Montana State University-Bozeman since 1975. He teaches trumpet, Jazz Band, Brass Techniques, and Music Fundamentals. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music Education from the University of Illinois, where he studied trumpet with Haskell Sexton and David Hickman, and conducting with Harry Begian. He taught for several years in the public schools in Illinois and has taught trumpet and jazz bands at Illinois Wesleyan Music Camp, Amherst Summer Music Center, Montana State University Music Camp, and the Red Lodge Music Festival. He has frequently served the states of Montana and Wyoming as a popular clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor. He has extensive and versatile professional experience as a performing trumpeter, having toured with Big Band USA (a professional dance orchestra) during his college career. Mr. Makeever is principal trumpet in the Bozeman Symphony and the Montana Brass Quintet.