I am a guitarist, instructor and performer with more than 40 years experience; proficient in many styles. I am a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, and for the past 22 years have been an instructor and mentor in Guitar Craft . I am also on the board of directors of Seattle Circle , a not-for-profit arts association dedicated to fostering music and facilitating practical music education via workshops, courses, private instruction and performance events.
* * * TUNING THE AIR * * *
I am the Music Director, as well as one of the players, in a series of utterly unique guitar circle performances called Tuning the Air . We into our seventh season.
Every Thursday, February 5 through June 25
Fremont Abbey Arts Center
4272 Fremont Ave N, Seattle
Showtime: 8:00pm, doors open at 7:45pm
Admission $10
There is free parking in their lot 1/2 block north on Fremont Ave.
148 performances so far, and counting…! The Stranger’s Christopher DeLaurenti wrote : “I can't decide what is more impressive about Seattle Circle—their astonishing collective precision or how their seating arrangement transforms the music. It's like being inside a giant zither; strums, chords, and melodies not only sail over your head, but tilt and rotate around you. The sound moves with a method. Seattle Circle rely on virtuosic listening as well as on cues such as eye contact and gently pushing the guitar's headstock toward one another to "pass" the sound around the circle. The music ranges from winning covers of "Kashmir" and Brian Wilson's inconsolable lament "In My Room" to pieces influenced by the classical guitar tradition, flamenco, progressive rock, and the avant. Seattle Circle always open with "Tuning the Air," a marvelous Steve Reich–like tapestry of meticulously picked notes. â€
* * * GUITAR INSTRUCTION * * *
The primary focus of the approach I use is HOW to play, rather than WHAT to play, with an emphasis on mechanics, fretboard knowledge and ear training. My aim is for you to develop the skills to play anything you wish, and not simply the things I show you. I am available privately, as well as through several programs and schools.
Private Instruction : I teach in the north end of Seattle. Hour and half-hour lessons available for adults, and children 12-years and older.
For those with an interest in Guitar Craft and the New Standard Tuning, I am an authorized instructor. At Seattle Circle we have initiated a series of Monthly Open Guitar Circles , which give newcomers the opportunity to work together with experienced players in order to discover the power of this approach to music and a creative life.
Plateau Music : One day a week I teach at Plateau, located in Issaquah, WA. The focus there is primarily kids, but I maintain a number of adult students there as well. It is a good choice for east-siders who may have difficulty making it over to Ballard.
* * * (scream) * * *
If you would like to learn more about (scream), you can read the liner notes here.
* * * GUITAR CRAFT * * *
I attended the first Guitar Craft course in March 1985. In December 1985 I was part of the first Guitar Craft Level II, which produced the album Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists, Live! In early 1986 I was asked to join the team as an assistant Guitar Craft instructor. I have been involved in Guitar Craft as a student, an instructor, a mentor and a member of the League of Crafty Guitarists ever since. I have served in the role of Director of Guitar Craft North America, as well as Musical Director for the League of Crafty Guitarists. Along with the League of Crafty Guitarists which is currently touring steadily (primarily in Europe, but coming to North America soon), Seattle's "Tuning the Air" is one of Guitar Craft's premier showcases. Suffice it to say, a great deal of what I know about guitaring and musicking I learned from struggling with this material and this process.
You may wish to visit the Guitar Craft website , which contains a complete calendar of Guitar Craft and related courses and events, and complete contact information for Guitar Craft worldwide.
