In 1974 Beard met John McCutcheon, Guy Carawan and many old time musicians while living in Wise County, Virginia.  Here he developed an appreciation for Appalachian music and bought his first dulcimer.
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While a student at the University of Pittsburgh, Beard developed his dulcimer style with old-time and Irish tunes playing with Buckdancer’s Choice (1977) with Ron Buchanan, Sue Powers, Tina Fink and Bob Stein.  Later he helped found Devilish Merry, with Sue Powers, Larry Edelman, Jan Hamilton (Sota) and LE McCullough.

Beard has played for square and contra dances since the 1970’s in the music and dance communities of Pittsburgh, Chapel Hill, NC and the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.

Beard has impacted communities as Program Director and General Manager at various radio stations in Virginia (WTJU), North Carolina (WNCW, WRQM) and Pennsylvania (WDIY, WXLV), a career which started in 1979, directly from his work as a musician.