Koen van Straalen profile picture

Koen van Straalen

GUITARIST KOEN VAN STRAALEN

About Me


MySpace Backgrounds HISTORY

I started playing the guitar since I was 14 years old. Inspired by bands like Metallica, Nirvana, Sepultura, Machine Head, Deftones etc. I teached myself how to play by listening very well and playalong with my favourite albums. After a year I started out playing in bands and not long after that I played my very first gig in a local bar. Through the years, my musical taste changed and in that period I picked up a whole lot of new influences. After that I have had class in classical and improvisational music. By the time I was 18 years old, one of my teachers asked me to teach some students of his, in a period where he had little time. I never stopped teaching since.

FREELANCE GUITARIST

I gained a lot of knowledge in very much different styles and because of that, I can work in almost every situation: live, studio, accompanying or improvising. My way of working is based on control over my instrument, a great sound, usable in practically every style of music and situation, troubleshooting capabilities, flexibility, and accuracy. Beside that I have gained a lot of live experience.

GUITAR SCHOOL

Since 2006 I am running my own guitar school in Uden, the Netherlands. I teach there at Tuesday and Thursday. It is possible to have lessons in many different styles and for all ages. My lessons are based on the idea that the student always is the center of the lesson and that the program always will be formed to the needs and wishes of the student.

For further information You can call me at: 0031 413-266 373 / 0031 6 17 212 844. Or You can send me an e-mail to: [email protected].


My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 8/17/2006
Band Website: soundasleep.eu
Band Members: At this moment I am playing in two bands. One of them is "Sound Asleep", a pop/rock band. We write songs in a way that is strongly influenced by (among others) Jeff Buckley, Dave Matthews and the Beatles. Check www.myspace.com/soundasleepmusic!! The other band is totally different, it is a large big band formation called "Kicks". We play a different repertoire every year in a way that is quite unusual. We create a show in a tribute sort of way, every year with a different artist in mind, for instance, last year we had a Robbie Williams show and this year we are doing a Tribute To James Brown. To forfill the expactations from the audience (both musically and physically) as much as possible, we invite a guest-singer every year to play the role of the artist in mind. Party guaranteed!!
Influences: Scott Henderson, Robben Ford, John Scofield, Frank gambale, Pat Metheny, Joe Satriani, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Martijn van Iterson, Brent Mason, Steve Pittico, Jesse van Ruller, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Steve Vai, Rory Gallagher, Cor Mutsers, Andres Segovia, Mike Stern, Paco deLucia, The Beatles, Tommy Emmanuel, Jimi Hendrix, Victor Villandangos, enz.
Sounds Like: The style of my playing is leaning on timing and groove very much, with the roots lying in the rock/blues and sophisticated with a jazzy feel. Country/bluegrass licks are common guests in my improvisations. The center of all this is harmony, openmindedness, dynamics and the idea that technique must always serve the music. Hence my love for classical guitar en acoustic fingerstyle music.
Record Label: None
Type of Label: None