By: Makiah Osborne  

Floating through the air, almost tangible, the sound of music surrounded Larry Burger all his life. Beginning in Dallas at the age of 11, the audio design instructor at Casper College said his parents gifted him his first guitar. With small garage sessions, a tour reaching over thirty states, and a lifelong abundance of knowledge, Burger now shines his light and love for music on anyone who crosses his path. 

Burger said, “Even at an early age, when I was in high school, we were a pretty well received band, so I was making hundreds of dollars on the weekend as a kid. While it was a hobby, I was starting to take it very seriously.”  

Burger said that his draw to music excluded any other hobby, evident by its pervasive effect on his life.  

Burger said, “We’d get done with school, and we’d hit the woodshed. Other kids were going to movies and out playing, and we were trying to be the ones performing for where they were going.” 

He explained that towards the end of high school, he played gigs six nights a week, working until 2 a.m. and then getting up for school the next day. The demanding schedule coincided with his dream to play for larger crowds, which came to fruition as he hit the road with his bandmates and the band called Sketch.  

Jumping from city to city, life on the road served the band well. Burger said the group played five to six nights a week, four hours a day, driving through the night to the next city, or sleeping-in, ready to hit the road. 

Burger said that after many years, he craved a sense of stability and an outlet outside of performing. He found the remedy through sound recording as he opened his own studio. Years later, Burger recorded music for the dean at CC. Subsequently, the dean offered him the job of audio design instructor. Teaching for the last 18 years, Burger’s impact is undeniable.  

Tyler Sanner, a prior student of Burger’s, turned friend and colleague, said that beyond his own intuition, Burger shaped his entire approach to his professional career. But even more, he saw Larry’s influence transpire leaps in his emotional growth, improving his life for the better.  

Sanner said, “I’ve also taken a lot of how he treats people in his life and tried to apply it where I can in mine as well, trying to be that good. (When) you see that example, you can’t help but try to perpetuate that.” 

After graduating from CC, Sanner looked to apply his skills. Throwing his first festival, Sanner said excitement, but also the realities of the workload weighed upon his shoulders. Calling Burger, Sanner asked for a sliver of his time – anything to relieve the stress of the day.  

Taking a pause and wiping a tear from his eye, Sanner said, “He was there all day. He was there the entire time, doing all of it. How can you ask for better, right? You can’t. Yeah, he’s just there for you when you need him. That’s huge.”  

Burger’s benevolent nature passed over everyone he met but prominently washed over his classroom. 

The Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Humanities, Julia Whyde, said, “I think Larry is the epitome of the CC, lifelong value of learning.”  

Noting his ability to learn and evolve, Whyde stated her respect.  

Whyde said, “His curiosity leads and his love for bringing people into a learning experience that is engaging is just so wonderful.” 

As music touched his life, Burger worked with Whyde to create the new certificate, “The Art of Sound Recording.” The certificate centered around audio literacy and the ability to create quality sound. Burger said he felt the need to impart this knowledge as Artificial Intelligence takes root in society.  

Burger said, “I’d like to with this last generation, that has a fighting chance, to really experience it. I’d like to be able to have them kind of stop, and take a breath, and reevaluate how much fun that is (physically making music).”  

He said there is no other feeling like playing an instrument, making a sound, and hearing a piece of art that clicks.  

Though reaping the rewards of performing, Burger said he considers his work at the college and his role as a teacher, as the most impactful work of his life.  

Speaking to this effect, Sanner said, “You’re going to walk in, and it’s (Burger’s greeting) always very, ‘Oh! You’re here!’ He seems to do that with everyone… That means something.” 

Through intentional kindness and a love for music, Burger spread his light.  

Burger said, “So if I can reach one or two, or a bunch of them (students), then that’s probably worth it. You know, when we were performing and when we were popular, that was a wonderful reward also, but that’s more fleeting. You know, that’ll go and that was yesterday, and we can reminisce, but if I can help some students change the rest of their life, then that’s pretty rewarding.”