Teen's enduring hobby has strings attached

THOMSON - Jacob Powers loves music.

Fortunately for him, so do his parents. And his younger sister. And his two younger brothers.

But for the 14-year-old Thomson High School rising freshman, music performance has sparked his interest since age 4. Ten years later, his interest is still strong - and he's become an accomplished violinist and guitarist to boot.

Not only does he have the talent, but he has his parents - both musicians - to further his development. His father, Don, is a member of the local rock band The Crosstie Walkers, while his mother, Beth, teaches piano lessons. His three brothers and sisters also play a variety of instruments.

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Despite both of his parents' longtime involvement with music, Jacob insists that they never pressured him into learning the violin.

"Mom and Dad, they always played music, and they always wanted me to play, but I just decided," he said.

Powers can play anything from classical pieces to a more rock-country sound with his father's group.

"He's really now the only one of us who has any musical training, so he brings a little bit of credibility," said Don Powers of The Crosstie Walkers. Jacob also plays electric guitar for First Baptist Church's praise band.

For Jacob, playing with his father in The Crosstie Walkers has been a great experience.

"I enjoy the folk stuff that Dad and them play," he said. "It's pretty cool. It's pretty fun. There's not that much pressure on me anyway."

Jacob is taught by Lois Akins of Suzuki Strings of Augusta, where pupils taught by the Suzuki method, which emphasizes performance and practice. Jacob's first public performance came when he was 4 years old.

Though he has no set plans for the future, he knows one thing: music will be involved.

"Music will definitely play a big part when I get older," he said. "I just want to play places. I'm not sure that it will be my main job, but who knows?"