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Levels: Beginner to Advanced
In-Home Lessons: Yes
In-Studio Lessons: Yes
Ages: 5 & up
Subjects Taught
Guitar, Music Performance, Music Theory, Songwriting
Education
Fullerton College - Guitar/Jazz/Theory - 2003 to 2005 (not complete)
Specialties
I specialize in building an expansive understanding of the fretboard and how to utilize the guitar's strengths, both when playing solo and when communicating with other instruments.
I stress the importance of understanding melody and how to build from that foundation. Melody often provides structure in a tune and is the core for all other accompaniment.
Along those same lines falls harmony and how to create various moods by introducing different types or amounts of
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tension. Harmony and melody are quite similar in this regard; in fact, I would go so far as to say that they are different sides of the same coin.
Lastly, but certainly not least, is rhythm. Rhythm is a crucial aspect in musical communication and can make all the difference when conveying style. My background as a percussionist has given me great insight into the world of rhythm and how interpretive it is, with endless possible variations. After all, rhythm is simply a way of chopping up time.
Isolating music into its three main components; melody, harmony, and rhythm is the most effective way to build your vocabulary so as not to overload the brain with too much new information at once.
"A man with a message that rings out loud and clear…" (Michael Magoski, Artist/Curator- Violethour Art Studio, Fullerton, CA)
Everything I do, I do for music. It has brought me more joy than words can express and taken me places I could have only reached through its pursuit.
Music is more than a backdrop to our lives. It is a language that describes us in ways words cannot. I also believe that music can be understood by anyone who cares to listen. It is as natural, and complex as our
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own emotions.
I have been writing, performing and teaching music most of my life. I have always had a strong, natural ear which I can only assume comes from my upbringing with music. Both my parents played guitar and wrote songs. Our house was filled with instruments; guitars, keyboards, dulcimers, percussion, and many others. When I was about five years old I went out to our swing-set in the backyard with a roll of kite string and turned a portion of the monkey bars into a pitched instrument. I had little idea of what I was doing at the time; it just seemed like fun. I have held on to that spirit to this day.
Throughout my childhood I continued to study music through guitar, percussion, and songwriting. I was enrolled in school music programs from sixth grade all the way through high school of my own volition. I studied concert percussion as well as guitar both in school and privately.
After high school I joined the Fullerton College music program in Southern California where I began studying jazz guitar and theory; both jazz and classical. After finishing up a two year program at Fullerton, I began teaching private lessons at a local studio and gigging full time. For five years I taught students of all ages, skill levels and interests, and performed in dozens of ensembles ranging from jazz; to rock, reggae, hip hop, folk, and country.
I have since traveled throughout the U.S. performing, teaching and studying music of all kinds.
