I’ve always loved playing guitar and being involved with teaching. There’s nothing like the feeling you get when you’re playing with musicians who love to perform as much as you do.
I’ve worked at Berklee for twenty years now, so I’ve gone through a lot of changes as a teacher and a musician. I’ve worked in Berklee’s Ear Training Department, where I co-authored three books with Scott McCormick. I’ve worked in what was called the Performance Studies Department, where I was honored to teach Jazz Improvisation classes alongside fellow faculty members Hal Crook, Ed Tomassi, Jim Odgren and others. For the last 15 years, I’ve worked with Guitar Chair Larry Baione and 60 other Guitar Department faculty members.
In the last couple of years, I’ve added working online for berkleemusic.com’s Berklee Guitar Chords 101 to my daily routine. Guitarists from all over the world have taken the course and I’ve been amazed by the common ground that all guitarists share. And, I’ve been blown away by guitar heroes who’ve inspired many to higher heights, or to start playing in the first place.
I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts and perspectives—letting you know what I see as important to the past, present and future of guitar playing.—or, playing in general. I’ve been deep into a wide range of music and guitarists: Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Jimmy Raney—as well as Jeff Beck, Joe Walsh, Mick Taylor and, lately, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Merle Travis and many others. Too many to mention, at least for now. Please check back for future blog posts.
