keith shaffer profile picture

keith shaffer

About Me

Classic guitarist Keith Shaffer teaches general music at an elementary school in Indiana. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ball State University in 2003, with a Bachelor of Science degree in music education. He also majored in classical guitar performance, and studied under noted American guitarist Paul Reilly. He is currently working on a Master's Degree in classical guitar performance at Ball State University.In addition to studying with Professor Reilly, he has studied with John Demas (who is also a world renowned bozouki player) and Dr. Mark Switzer. He has also performed in and attended master classes taught by virtuoso Pepe Romero; Guitar Foundation of America contest winners Franco Platino and Denis Azabagic; and has studied privately with GFA winner Martha Masters.Keith taught guitar privately and at Notes of Praise Music Academy in Lakeland, FL (where he also taught music theory classes) for several years. He continues to devote spare time to teaching students the discipline of the classical guitar.While residing in Tampa, FL, he performed as a soloist and as a member of the Pyramid Guitar Trio throughout central Florida at art festivals, in recitals and at private engagements. He was also House Performer at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center for a number of years, where he (and his ensemble) gave pre-concert performances for several Broadway musicals including Cats, Phantom of the Opera, and Les Miserables, as well as special events such as shows by Yanni, David Copperfield, and the Pointer Sisters. Since relocating to Indiana he has combined with guitarist Andrew Shepard-Smith to form Twelve Strings Guitar Duo.In 2002, award-winning composer Jody Nagel wrote the Little "King Arthur" Suite for him, and Keith premiered the work in 2004. He recorded the suite in the spring of 2005. He is currently working on another piece written for him by Dr. Nagel titled "A Simple Piece: A study in exotic scales with open string accompaniment", and he hopes to premiere and record it within the next year.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/30/2007
Band Members:



Influences: Far too many to name them all, but my main influences are my teachers: John Demas, Mark Switzer, and Paul Reilly. I have to name as both an intellectual and musical influence my close friend and teacher Dr. Jody Nagel. Also, Pepe Romero, Julian Bream, LAGQ, as well as almost every classical guitarist that I have ever heard, for better or for worse. I have also been influenced in one way or another by many pop and folk artists such as Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, Bob Dylan, John McCutcheon, Badi Assad, to name a few. I also have to add that I have been influenced by several of my students. through teaching others,I have become a better player. (thanks Kyle and Nathan!)div class="visitor map"


Myspace Graphics

I found some really Cute Myspace Layouts at Doobix.com


Sounds Like: I've been told that I have a warm, dark tone. Although I constantly work on technique, I emphasize interpretation, dynamics, phrasing, etc. in an effort to be as expressive a player as possible. I would never dare to compare my mortal abilities to a player such as Julian Bream, but his expression is that which i try to emulate the most.420 Myspace 420 Myspace Layouts 420 Myspace Comments 420 Myspace Graphicss 420 Myspace Images 420 Myspace Stuff Simple Myspace Layouts Cute Myspace Layouts Myspace Quotes St. Patricks Day Myspace Layouts St Patricks Day Myspace Comments St Patricks Day Myspace Graphics St Patricks Day Myspace Images Love Myspace Layouts Abstract Myspace Layouts Plain Myspace Layouts Alcohol Layouts Emo Myspace Layouts Dark Myspace Layouts found this
Paradise at the Beach Layouts in Abstract Layouts | Get your own!

Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

three cups of tea

I recently read the book "Three Cups of Tea" by David Oliver Relin and Greg Mortenson. Excellent book! I think it should be required reading for every American citizen, not only because it is an excel...
Posted by on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:36:00 GMT

this generation

i have been far busier than i thought that i would have considering that i am on vacation, so i haven't really had time to write any of my own thoughts down, but more than not, i agree with the positi...
Posted by on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:03:00 GMT

Open letter to Barack Obama

I got this letter from author Fred Stopsky's blog; since we don't have the same list of "friends" i thought that some of you might be interested. I hope he doesn't mind that I published it on my site....
Posted by on Fri, 16 May 2008 22:25:00 GMT

why i am a liberal/democrat

Let me start out by saying that Democrats are for the most part pussies. George W. Bush (dubya for short) is not. Yes, you read that right. As a liberal, I am outraged at how they won control of Congr...
Posted by on Fri, 09 May 2008 18:33:00 GMT

mortgage crisis

I did not write this. I borrowed it from another website, but it is an excellent article outlining the truth behind the mortgage crisis in our country. Keep in mind, while 1000s are losing their homes...
Posted by on Sat, 03 May 2008 21:35:00 GMT

my greatest fear

Let me paint a scary picture. This is a scenario that haunts me every night, and I really don't think that it's all that far-fetched.China is the elephant in the room that nobody is really talking abo...
Posted by on Fri, 02 May 2008 14:32:00 GMT

a few thoughts

I've recently had the pleasure of making some new friends on "the right", and I do mean that sincerely&I enjoy opposing viewpoints that are valid and well thought out. I don't enjoy talking about seri...
Posted by on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:52:00 GMT

teaching to the test

This is more of a guided question, really. Let me set it up, though. In the schools, there is a huge emphasis placed on high-stakes, standardized testing. Here in Indiana the test is called the ISTEP....
Posted by on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:34:00 GMT

No Child Left Behind

This is a work in progress: check back, I will surely be modifying this in the future. And please offer feedback. I would love to hear your thoughts, whether they agree with mine or not.The No Child L...
Posted by on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:13:00 GMT

Hey, Republicans!

I want to take a minute and ask those who are Republicans and make less than $100,000 per year: What are you thinking? I do understand why there are Republicans, I just don't know why there are so man...
Posted by on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:34:00 GMT