Meramec student embraces his musical talents around campus
Tyler Burrus
-Staff Writer-
Students may have seen or heard this character around campus, playing a flute or saxophone. The character is Ryan Bouma, also known to many students as “Green Bean.”
“I walked into a gathering of friends. P-funk was playing on the radio. I was wearing a green shirt and green pants and dancing, when one of the girls from across the room shouted, ‘It’s a green bean!’” Bouma said.
Bouma said it is good to have a nickname because it is another way to get his name out there. For him, a nickname is part of his musical identity and another way of letting people know about his band, Stank Nasty. People often wonder why he is called “Green Bean” and his story keeps the conversation going.
“I can be myself and promote the band easily just by talking about it. I feed on the energy and gravitate towards people who are interested,” Bouma said.
Bouma’s love for music started his senior year of high school with a guitar he had bought at a garage sale. His next purchase was a harmonica that he played around his high school campus.
“I started having dreams about harmonicas so I bought one,” Bouma said. “I definitely felt that music was the cure for my anxiety.”
According to Bouma, playing music around campus and at music festivals made him feel less nervous about being in areas full of people. This encouraged his love for music.
Eventually, the number of instruments Bouma could play grew. He currently plays the trombone, trumpet, piano, organ, harmonica, saxophone and the flute.
“[The Saxophone and flute] are my strongest instruments, those and the keys,” Bouma said.
While here at STLCC-Meramec, he has taken all music theory classes and is currently enrolled in a jazz improvisation class.
Bouma said he is gathering enough credits at Meramec so he can eventually go to music school. He has been looking into Berkley University in Boston.
“I basically just want to get enough credits to get into a music school,” Bouma said.
Not only can you find him playing on the campus around school, but around town as well. his band play around St. Louis, mainly at 2720 Cherokee or the Gramophone. Their next show will be Oct. 29 at the Koken Art Factory, located at 2500 Ohio Ave.
Stank Nasty is mix of different musical styles such as hip hop, reggae, funk, afro-beat, blue grass and a little bit of Latin jazz.
“It’s the perfect group for me to be in because I like to play a bunch of different instruments,” Bouma said.
As a musician, Bouma has been taught by other musicians and the musical culture of St. Louis.
“I’ve seen a lot of generosity and compassion from people,” said Bouma.
During the Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park, Bouma was busking or was street performing. Within the first hour and a half, he already had a good amount of tips and two free meals from the local vendors.
“I felt that it was a microcosm of the world and the world was taking care of me,” Bouma said.
One musician Bouma has taken the most from is Sonny Rowlins, a famous jazz and sax player.
“He’s got a strong sense of personality and tradition in his horn. I can tell he’s been studying the art of jazz for most of his life and his ideas come out while he plays his music,” Bouma said.
Bouma said musicians have to be in tune with their spirit to be successful.
“I feel that with music there’s a spirit and the more in tune with it the more successful you’ll be,” Bouma said.
