Guitar Lessons in Lubbock, TX

Instruments: Guitar Synthesizer Ukulele Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
I would write. I love to tell stories - which is what writing songs is for me. I find people and experiences to be so interesting. I'm inspired by ideas. By how people think. Language, like music, can be beautiful and graceful. I'm inspired by how a great author can turn phrases. Like writing songs, I'm moved to create things that don't already exist. Writing a story is like sitting with the guitar and writing a new song. Beginning with an idea, a sound, a character - then developing that sound or character into a story. Both writing books and songs is an attempt to explain the human condition. To connect emotionally.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
I don't have a dream piece to perform. I write my own music and get the most satisfaction performing my own songs. As a child, there was certainly music I wanted to perform. Anything by The Beatles or Jimi Hendrix. In college, there were a variety of classical pieces that I wanted to perform. One of my favorite pieces to perform on guitar is "Asturias (Leyenda)" a work by the Spanish composer and pianist Isaac Albéniz. Originally a piano piece, it has become popular on the guitar. I'm most excited to write and record my music. Performing those songs live is the height of music, for me.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lindenwood University with emphasis in Classical Guitar Performance. It's a Liberal Arts degree - I also studied literature, history, science, math, etc. I chose the classical music program because I wanted to learn more about Music History. I also wanted to learn advanced Music Theory. I wanted a program that was diversified outside my major. For example, I learned about the Renaissance period in Music History while also learning what was going on in the world outside of music and art in my World History class.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I spend most of my time writing, recording and performing live. But I do take time to study. I have a playlist on Spotify with a list of songs or pieces of music I want to learn. I also have a large collection of classical scores that I work on regularly. When I learn a song, I listen to all the instruments. I won't solely focus on the guitar. I will learn the vocal (lyrics and melody), I'll study the what the rhythm section is doing. I'll study the production. I want to learn everything about the song.

Read More