Music Lessons in Houston, TX

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Harmonica

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I knew that I wanted to be a professional musician when I was just a kid. When I learned my instruments well enough to perform them onstage, the feeling of sharing that gift with others has always been the greatest feeling in the world to me. I love teaching also because as a teacher, you are helping others develop their gifts and preparing them to share those with others. Music is one of the only things in our modern world that truly brings people together, regardless of their cultures.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am proud to have been able to travel around the world making music. My guitar/voice/songs have enabled me to see and experience other cultures and countries, which is such an eye-opening, mind-opening, enriching experience. Also, I was able to write and record with Bo Diddley, and he appears on my CDs, which I'm very grateful for.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
Guitar is my main instrument. I chose it for many reasons...it is an easy instrument to learn and get playing songs quickly, it is a great instrument to front a band and allows you the freedom to move around, it is easy to change the sound by adding effects or changing the way you approach the instrument, and it is also a very recognizable sound that people gravitate towards, since it is so prevalent in our popular music today. It is also easy to write songs on guitar, and since you can bend notes/add vibrato easily, it is easy to be expressive and do cool solos that people's ears connect to.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
My parents were musicians, so I naturally gravitated towards instruments that were in our home. I had musical mentors as well, notably Joe Hughes, a Houston Blues guitarist, and Bo Diddley, a rock and roll icon. They took the time to help me along in my music career. They both inspired me to be a better player, to be original, and to find my own voice as a musician and instrumentalist. They gave me advice about music and the music business, and also generously gave me spotlight on stage.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I think Blues is my favorite genre to play because it is so improvisational in nature, and expressive in nature. Blues closely parallels our language that we speak on a daily basis...we communicate and "improvise" every time we talk to someone, as opposed to reading English off a page. Blues is the same in that respect, in that no song is ever the same twice, and there is so much room to play or sing something with your own individual flavor.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have a BA in music performance. I chose it because obviously music is my passion, and studying music enabled me to learn more music history and theory. As a part of the degree I learned jazz, on bass and guitar, which opened my ears up to a new way of chording and soloing. I was able to apply what I learned into the playing that I do with my own group. Also, learning formally in school gave me a basis for the teaching I do, and a deeper understanding of my own playing.

When will I start to see results?
There's no formula to tell when a student will see results...every student is different. As a teacher, my goal is to share the most practical knowledge/techniques/concepts and help the student apply them in music they love. From there, each individual student's level of passion and dedication will determine how long it takes to see results.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Your child could benefit from lessons if they show any signs of being interested in music. If your young child sings along to music, imitates others playing instruments, demonstrates that they have rhythm, plays "air guitar" or "air drums", all of these signs could indicate they may benefit from music lessons. Your child may even tell you about an interest they have in music or in a specific instrument. Lessons can benefit anyone, regardless of their skill level, and finding a teacher who can keep them motivated is the best bet.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
The key to practicing effectively is to realize that any time you're playing your instrument, you're learning, growing, and practicing, even if you don't set out to "practice". "Practice" is work, and sometimes that can take the fun out of it, so don't psyche yourself out by "practicing", make yourself PLAY often, and realize that you're getting better and improving every time you touch your instrument. The other thing to do is make sure your instrument is always within reach. NEVER put it in the case unless you're taking it somewhere...when your instrument is close to you, you'll PLAY it more often and, by default, PRACTICE more often.

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