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Beyond being a talented musician and teacher, Cary Kamp--erschroer says he can beat any challenger in thumb wrestling.

"Yeah I am pretty proud to say that I can thumb wrestle like no one else," he said.

Kamperschroer considers his thumb-wrestling skills just one of his many talents, though he probably is most proud of seeing his dream come true --making a living as a full-time musician.

"I remember my (school) counselors telling me that if I wanted to make a living doing music, that I'd have to teach it. I was the black sheep because they always told me not to take the music route," he said.

But Kamperschroer said he knew that if he followed his passion, he could make it work.

"It's amazing how many doors open when you stick to what you love. Can you imagine what the world would be like if everybody did what they love?" he said last week.

And what Kamperschroer loves is drums.

"I have been playing the drums since I was 3 years old. I got my first drum set when I was in the sixth grade. I started playing piano after that, and the rest is history," he said.

"Music to me is an expression of life. I can't find love for anything else like I love music."

Kamperschroer and his siblings took music lessons as children, but he is the only member of the family that stuck with music.

"Coming from a very scientific-oriented family, I am definitely the odd one out," he said.

Kamperschroer recently moved to Oak Creek after living with his wife, Harmony Harris, in Denver for a few years.

After living the ski-bum

lifestyle for two years, Kamp--erschroer decided it was time to get serious about his music.

He put to use his music education degree from Indiana State University and briefly taught music at the alternative school in Oak Creek while continuing to advertise his availability to give private lessons.

When he realized there were enough Steamboat and South Routt residents interested in learning music from him, Kamperschroer dedicated the majority of his time to private lessons and making music.

"It's pretty tight what I do," he said.

Kamperschroer has been performing the past few years at South Routt hot spots such as Chelsea's and the Paradigm Theater.

"I refer to my music as 'whirled' music. I have different styles -- all original -- including Latin, jazz, African, blues and rock," he said.

Kamperschroer occasionally plays with Steamboat guitarist Chris Utterberg and Nahila Bonfiglio, one of his Oak Creek students.

"I love performing, but with teaching I feel like I can give new generations the same inspiration I have," he said. "It teaches them how to work together and how to be persistent and to practice. I try to teach them that you can't fake music."

"It's surprising the number of kids who just sort of come out of the woodwork (in South Routt) and are really talented musicians. There definitely seems to be a lot of culture moving into this area," he said.

Kamperschroer said his daily schedule includes spending lots of time in his home studio, which he calls his office, and the daily and weekly lessons he provides to his 20 students.

"I am definitely not a normal 9-to-5 person. I am a morning person, but I also stay up pretty late. I guess you could say I am practicing to be an insomniac with this schedule," he said.

Kamperschroer teaches percussion, brass, woodwind and strings and requires a minimum one-month commitment from his students. He can be reached at 736-1134.

-- To reach Alexis DeLaCruz, call 871-4234

or e-mail adelacruz@steamboatpilot.com