Akins studied the tuba with Ronald Bishop of the Cleveland Orchestra, Arnold Jacobs of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Robert Ryker of the Montreal Symphony, Fredrick Schaufele Jr. at Lakewood High School, and Robert LeBlanc of Ohio State University.
[2] Akins is also a clinician and consultant for the Tuba Exchange in Durham, North Carolina, and has been a design consultant for various tuba companies including the G+P Instrument Company in Milan.
As a clinician for these companies, Akins has given tuba masterclasses and recitals for high schools and colleges throughout the United States.
He has taught several tubists, including Carol Jantsch as a beginner.
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