Guitar with James M.

Born in Downey, California in 1965, James began playing the guitar at age eleven. At the age of fifteen he auditioned and ultimately studied with Celin Romero. Shortly thereafter, he performed in several master classes for Pepe Romero, George Sakelariou, Bartolomeo Diaz, Benjamin Verdery and John Duarte. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree at Mansfield University under Pablo Cohen, where he also studied voice and viola as well as receiving the SAI/Schmits award for best performance in 1996. Later, he earned his Masters of Music in Guitar Performance at Portland State University, Oregon, under composer and guitarist Bryan Johanson. James is an active guitar instructor and has taught at the Creative and Performing Arts, San Diego, California, the Beacock’s Music Education Center, Vancouver, Washington, the Urban Music Center, Portland, Oregon, and presently teaches at both Clark College Vancouver, Washington and at Concordia in Portland, Oregon. James has created two instructional DVD’s, one on Classical Guitarist Jeffrey Ashton’s new guitar method and the other on his own beginning method, “Basic Guitar Method 1 Tid Bits.” As a soloist and ensemble performer, James has performed in concert series, music festivals, and concertos with local orchestras throughout the United States, (Green Valley Recreation Center, Arizona; Portland State University ThinkMusic ThinkLincoln Series, Oregon; Broderick Gallery, Oregon; Arts Equity Theatre, Washington; Portland Classic Guitar, Oregon; The Northwest Conference, Washington; Narberth String Summer Camp, Pennsylvania; Oregon Chamber Players, Oregon; Hilton Hotel, New York City), and with members of the Vancouver Symphony, performing works by Vivaldi, and Savas Zannas. Teaming up with award winning teacher and performer, Soprano April Duvic, they have performed works of DeFalla, Schubert, Villa Lobos, Dowland and Seiber. “An Evening with the Portland Guitar Duo,” is a live CD and DVD recording with guitarist Foti Lycouridis. This recording features works by Monpou, Defalla, Gimenez, Chopin, Tedesco, Santorsola, Granados, and Albeniz. James’s repertoire ranges from Baroque music, such as Bach’s Cello Suites, to contemporary composers, such as Bryan Johanson and joins Foti Lycouridis in a duet, Spanish dance No.2: by Enrique Granados. The Portland Guitar Society reviewed his debut recording entitled “A James M. Concert” as a “reflective and immediately appealing performance.” *** Lesson Details *** ( To enhance self-worth and ones creativity) I use my own self-authored book, ' Basic Guitar Method & Tid Bits and Jeffery Ashton's., New Basic Guitar Method. As a teacher my class will cover technique, chord progression, note reading, and understanding of basic music skills. I will help you to learn to confidently play the guitar. . To develop basic music skills . To develop technical growth . To learn the art of self- discipline . To learn the art of performing . To provide the feeling of accomplishment *** Specialties *** I have studied classical and jazz in college and written my own method book for beginning basic guitar. I have used jazz guitar work shop series and "Jazz Guitar for Classical Cats" by Andrew York for theory. I'm a performer that is always reinventing myself to achieve better understanding on being a performer and knowing my audience. I enjoy writing songs instrumental or with lyrics and have learned the most important is form, and balance.