HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING GUITAR?
“I’ve been playing guitar as long as I can remember. I didn’t have an easy life as a kid, lots of people don’t, and guitar became a kind of sanctuary for me. It was this space inside my head where things made sense and I had some control. I picked up my guitar every chance I could. I once locked myself in a room and practiced for something like 13 hours straight. It became a way of expressing myself when I didn’t really have a voice.”
DID YOU RECEIVE FORMAL TRAINING?
“Definitely. I earned a Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University in Chicago, and then my Masters of Music from Bowling Green University a few years later. That’s where I became a Graduate Assistant Professor, thanks to the recommendation of Richard Pick, the Chairman of the Classical Guitar Department at DePaul.”
WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER GRADUATION?
“Split my time between playing and teaching private lessons. Between playing professionally, managing my band, teaching, and my family, I was pretty busy. After moving to Las Vegas, I became a guitar instructor for the Berns-Suzuki School of Music. I spent about 9 years there and was a highly regarded guitar teacher. It was a good experience.”
What do you enjoy about Teaching guitar?
"Watching students grow and develop skills they love. Helping students lay a good foundation they can build on. Watching them develop artistically while learning to express themselves in their favorite music style. I love playing and teaching music."
What types of STUDENTS have you worked with?
"All kinds. I teach a very broad range of musical styles from Classical to Rock to Country, and my students reflect that. No one is too young or too old to learn guitar. Whether your hair is gray, pink, or shaved, it doesn't matter to me. If you love music and want to learn to play, I can teach you."
What's the process?
"First, I find out what kind of music the student is interested in learning. New students generally like to learn the kind of music they enjoy listening to. Then, we take that enthusiasm and direct it towards learning. Each style of music has special approaches and guitar techniques, whether you are learning to play Blues or Classical, and the student will develop a good understanding of what their favorite style requires."
How long does it take?
"A lifetime. Maybe many lifetimes. I've been playing guitar most of my life and teaching for over 30 years and I learn new things all the time. But in practical terms, a dedicated student who puts in some practice everyday will surprise themselves how quickly they can learn to play their favorite style of guitar."