Guitar with Sam A.

My name's Sam, and I’m a 25 year old graduate of Iowa State University, with a bachelor’s degree in World Languages and Cultures. From January 2012 until May 2013, I studied guitar and Contemporary Writing and Production at the Berklee College of Music. I picked up the electric guitar when I was 14 years old, and I haven't been able to put it down since! Over the years, my musical interests have expanded to include arranging, production, and engineering. I recently moved to Chicago to work as a musical arranger and performer with the Oracle Theater group. *** Lesson Details *** The students’ long-term goals shape the curriculum. It’s important to keep them excited about the material, especially if they’re new to music. I’ve found the most effective way to do so is to show how good technique and basic theory apply to music they’re already listening to. Eventually, students see common threads between different styles and genres. Ideally, students will walk away with more eclectic musical preferences. Equally important is to trace a style back to its roots. To fully understand an idea, it’s crucial to understand where it comes from, such as the evolution of country blues to rock ‘n roll. *** Travel Equipment *** I have one electric bass guitar, and two electric guitars. If needed, I'd be happy to bring along extra guitar picks and strings for the student to use. I expect students to have regular access to any equipment or material necessary for practicing the week's lessons. *** Specialties *** My guitar and bass background includes blues, funk, jazz, pop, and rock. I rigorously studied both classical and jazz theory at Berklee, while also playing guitar in numerous jazz and pop ensembles.