About Me
For the most part, my life revolves around two things: Nature & Music. Nature comes first, of course, because without it there would be no music; music, however, is what I live for. My two main instruments are classical guitar and vihuela (I don't mean the Venezuelan vihuela; I mean the six course vihuela of Renaissance Spain). I also perform on Baroque guitar, lute and fool around with recorders. Frame drums are a passion with me and I occasioally succeed in playing myself into a trance with them. It's part of that inward journey that I believe all music is a vehicle for; indeed, my most profound spiritual experiences have occured while playing music. I try to share this ecstacy in performance and feel that performing music is a powerful healing experience, for both the audience and performer--but enough on the metaphysics of music for now. Suffice to say that, if you were to go deep into a forest, alone, and play the alto recorder for a little while, you'd get some idea of what I mean. At the very least, it should send chills up your spine.................
I began playing the cello when I was ten years old. In 1965, at the age of fourteen, I bought a guitar and spent the next twenty years playing the blues. In 1985, I devoted myself exclusively to classical guitar. Baroque guitar, lute and vihuela quickly followed. I spent three semesters as a music major in the New York City college system, have taken performance workshops at Julliard, and studied privately with Helen Bates for fifteen years. I am currently involved in ongoing early music studies with Pat O'Brien. I am always learning, and plan to continue my studies until my dying day. I have given recitals and performed in museums, galleries, cafes and restaurants, weddings and corporate affairs, from the Great Lakes to Amsterdam.
Nature is my inspiration and I spend my life seeking out beautiful places where I can revel in the free play of melody, harmony and rhythm in my inner ear. I camp and hike when I can. I believe it is foolish to expect that all my questions will be answered in dialogue with my fellow men and women; consequently, I look to the wilderness to teach me and show me the way. I look to my animal brothers and sisters for wisdom. But this is getting way too deep for a quick bio.
The Buddha's teachings guide me in my daily life; the guitar, the drum and the Earth lead me along my spiritual path; and music--well, music is My Reason For Being.A BIG thank you to my friend Joey Hernandez for putting together the video; he is a perfect mix of kindness, generosity and boundless talent. He is the most musical man I know. Thank you, Joey.
