James C
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Drums, Bass Guitar, Organ, Synthesizer, Harmonica, Ukulele, Mallet Percussion, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Showtunes, Spirituals, Reggae, Latin Jazz, Swing, Soul, Punk, Avant-garde
James C
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Drums, Bass Guitar, Organ, Synthesizer, Harmonica, Ukulele, Mallet Percussion, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Showtunes, Spirituals, Reggae, Latin Jazz, Swing, Soul, Punk, Avant-garde
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
BA, Mercyhurst University, Music
I have been a professional musician for all of my adult life. • I’ve taught music privately since 1988. Many of my former students have become professional musicians. • Over the last thirty-five years I have performed over a thousand shows in many facets as a professional pianist, guitarist, vocalist and arranger. • I performed 4 shows in 1994 as pianist with Rock and Roll pioneer and hall of famer, Bo Diddley. • I was house pianist at Hopper’s Brewpub from 1997 to 2000. • In 2002, I was the musical director for the Roadhouse Theater’s production of Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera. • I joined the Bluesbeaters (Against the World Enterprises) in 2005 and have performed 100 shows a year including 30 a year at Peak’n’Peek resort from 2005 to 2013. We currently perform monthly to packed houses at the Bullfrog Bar in Erie and are a favorite at many private events. • I composed, performed and recorded the soundtrack for a movie produced by WQLN entitled Scenes from an Attic in 2005. • I studied with renowned educator Basil Ronzitti from 1997 to 2000. • I studied musical composition with Dr. Albert Glinsky from 2002 to 2005. • I was the house pianist at CrayZParrot lakeside restaurant from 2006 to 2014. • I record music for various church choirs in the tri-state area. • I compose, perform and record commercial jingles for radio and TV. Some of my clients are The YMCA’s of Greater Erie and WSEE. • I am presenting a symposium on the history of Appalachian music at the Jefferson Educational Society on July 17, 2017.
I began teaching piano at World of Music in 1988. I tutored many students on several instruments while a student at D'Angelo School at Mercyhurst University. I champion many different methods of music education both formally and informally. I stress many tried and true fundamentals along with ear training to create a wide musical experience. I have an extensive library of music books, records and cd's. I am constantly researching new ways to provide stimuli to enhance the musical experience of my students. I like to create a musical environment where the student is free to experiment and build their own repertoire.
Every student is different and it is up to the educator to facilitate a program that fits the needs and desires of the student in order to create the best possible music experience. My love for music began at a very young age when I was an avid collector of recordings and began private lessons on piano and guitar. My brothers and sister and I were always singing and learning new tunes and performing for anyone who would listen. This love of music snowballed to where I ultimately became a professional musician in my late teens and 35 years later I still continue this life long love affair with music that includes many different styles.
I have no set style of teaching as every student is different. There are certain fundamentals that every musician should know and over the years I have discovered various methods that clear up the mysteries that befall the aspiring musician. Written music is not an exact science and for every rule there seems to be several exceptions. This can be quite confusing for the novice musician and through my extensive experience in the trade, I have found certain key components that dispel the fear that many students have of traditional classic training. In short, there are many shortcuts that can allow a student to move forward in their progress without bogging them down. Learning music is challenging and rewarding but should be fun without drudgery.
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