Music Performance with Stilts G.

Learn basic AND advanced techniques! Receive RARE, but FUNDAMENTAL, guitar tips! Learn how to look "past" music theory! Shawn "Stilts" is a performer, recording artist, poet, healing artist, and teacher of many different disciplines. Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, he began writing poetry regularly in high school as an outlet for self-expression, and a tool for healing from many of his experiences in the intense urban environment he grew up in. A life-time lover of music, Stilts explored an array of instruments throughout his early childhood years, but it was in high school where he discovered his love for the guitar. This became by far his instrument of choice after being introduced to the music of legendary Latin Guitarist, Carlos Santana. Although his childhood was challenging in many areas, Stilts was raised in a loving household, was labeled “academically gifted” as early as elementary school which provided an advanced education throughout the rest of his schooling, and he received consistent encouragement from his parents to acknowledge his talents and achieve great things in life. In 1999 he went on to attend college at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina and receive a degree in Computer Science in 2004. It was during his last year of college where he met Josephus Thompson III, now an internationally recognized poet who at the time was hosting a poetry event on the school's campus. Josephus noticed Stilts and his good friend, Ian Knight, playing guitar together on the steps outside of the student union. Josephus liked what he was hearing and invited them to accompany his poetry. Soon afterward, Josephus welcomed them to join his performing artist collaborative, “The Collective” where they would all perform together for the next 3 years. During this time Stilts performed in several different venues. He participated in open-mic hosting, 9 major theatrical performances that infused skits with spoken word and several other art forms on stage, workshops for the youth, and a musical performance for Oprah Winfrey during her visit to Bennett College for Women in 2006. Stilts was a part of “The Poetry Café,” a local radio show in Greensboro that aired every Friday night on 97.1 FM WQMG, which received rave reviews and achieved the number one position in ratings for the entire listening area during the show’s time slot. He has collaborated with several different independent artists and musicians from all over the nation on stage and in the recording studio, and has been featured on different independent albums, including “Miracles,” Josephus III’s debut spoken word album, and “Fortified,” the debut album from fellow performer B-Star, a highly respected hip hop artist from Fayetteville, North Carolina, now part of the group UpRite Lions based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Stilts has performed in numerous different bands, including the house band at local Greensboro night club, Renaissance Jazz Café while performing with The Collective, and 9-Piece R&B/Soul Band entitled “Soultriii” later in 2010, all while providing private guitar lessons. His goals as a musician are 1) to continue to work in the recording studio with fellow artists in the Seattle, WA area, the Atlanta, Georgia area, and online via the internet, and 2) to teach, tutor, and work with aspiring artists/musicians who want to learn how to communicate and express themselves through the universal language of music. If you are interested in online guitar lessons, or if you are in the local Seattle, Washington area and want lessons face-to-face, contact Stilts today! *** Studio Equipment *** Webcam (Online Classes) Acoustic Guitar Capo (Suggested for Students) Dry-Erase Board Laptop Computer w/ Internet Access Handouts / Worksheets *** Travel Equipment *** Local students will need to bring their own guitar with them for in-person lessons. *** Specialties *** "Right Brain" Guitar, Alternative, Latin, Soloing, Rhythm, Hip Hop, R&B, Blues.