Brian E. Guitar (all levels), Beginner Bass, Songwriting, Music Theory, Ear Training, Protools Recording. Miami, FL

Brian is a professional musician and teacher in the Greater Miami area. He is currently finishing up his undergraduate degree in Jazz Guitar Performance at the University of Miami, and anticipates a nourishing career filled of musical opportunity and development.

Bio:

Brian started playing guitar at the age of 10, cheerfully trying to show off to his friends and his Dad as a kid, only to scurry off and practice behind closed doors at home. He took some lessons with a scene musician, named, John Thomson, who, at the time, frequented the touristy town of New Hope, which Brian grew up in. He learned a gamut of classic rock riffs from the Beatles to Zeppelin to Soundgarden. During these first four years, he began to gradually shift into the blues realm, studying with a local blues legend by the name of Harry Jacobson, who was based in the Philadelphia suburb, Yardley. He fed his soul with the sounds of SRV, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Frank Zappa, & Jeff Beck.

At the age of around 15 Brian became genuinely interested in the art of jazz. After exploring the jazz idiom for a couple of years with H.J., he decided to seek out professional mentoring, from Jazz phenom, Jimmy Bruno, of Philadelphia. Jimmy Bruno gave him the knowledge and tools for Brian to audition and subsequently be accepted to seven different schools of music throughout the United States, including NYU, USC, Peabody Conversatory, and the University of Miami. He ultimately decided on the Tropical University of Miami, currently studying with Professor Randall Dollahon of UM Frost School of Music. 

Brian is also a prolific songwriter, in his own right, as he has written a host of his own compositions, which he began doing early on. All the way through, Brian has recorded, produced, and performed his music, trying to push the boundaries of the singer-songwriter genre, with an original fusion of styles and ideas of various music tradition. On a side note, He often uses these original compositions to reinforce his studies on the instrument and vice a versa. 

Brian has catered to numerous students throughout the past 5 years, passing on his knowledge, with no favor too large to ask. He has no secrets and wishes for your study of music to be as fulfilling as his has been.

I like to exert as little force upon the student as possible, letting the student guide him or herself in the direction they feel is best. I will offer my insight on anything, and explain how I learned things, but it is up to the student to genuinely want to learn the guitar. I have no problem teaching depths of music theory, or helping you learn your favorite songs or favorite guitar solos. I can teach chords and harmony better than almost anybody, and I know all the tools of the trade (bends, slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, double stops, vibrato, harmonics, muting, stomp boxes, EQ, amps, & everything in between).

I try to present things to the student in a few different ways [e.g. in writing (visually), on the guitar (tactally), and by listening to recordings (auditorally)]. I have a computer in my home studio that I sometimes use for ear training, play-along tracks, metronome, and other tools needed. I have a few handouts that I like to give to students, but I primarily write things out for the students in lessons, based on what the moment calls for.

BTW - I do not like teaching anything under an hour, unless you absolutely insist. Every half hour or 45 minute lesson I have given has been seemingly cut short by lack of enough time. Guitar requires time and patience.

Jazz, Blues, Rock, Funk, Acoustic, Finger-style, Folk, Country, Punk, Alternative, Grunge, Jam-Band, Fusion, etc., whatever you want

Council Rock North HS - Diploma - 2002-2005
University of Miami - Jazz Guitar - Currently attending

Guitar (all levels), Beginner Bass, Songwriting, Music Theory, Ear Training, Protools Recording.