Scott B
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Showtunes, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Samba, Bossa Nova, Punk, Avant-garde
Scott B
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles:
Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Showtunes, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Samba, Bossa Nova, Punk, Avant-garde
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 7-80
BA, Virginia Commonwealth University, Mass Communications
I'm a guitarist and composer living in Richmond, Virginia. For over ten years I've been creating some of the most original and genre-bending music in the city and in that time I've honed a teaching skill set that revolves around each individual student, and keeping music fun for them. I've worked with everyone from artist and saxophonist Matana Roberts, to expat hip hop producer Jneiro Jarel (JJ DOOM) and his music has been featured on NPR and BBC Radio. In addition I've shared the stage with artists as diverse as MacArthur Grant winner Ken Vandermark to singer/songwriter Julien Baker. Currently I lead the Kessel Quartet (w/ John Lilley, CJ Wolfe and Kevin Eichenberger) Scott Burton Trio (w/Cameron Ralston and Scott Clark) and my solo project Ritual Magick.
Starting with a jazz quartet in 2003, I've led and put together many groups and musical encounters over the years. I started teaching around that same time, and I've found personally that the two work very well together. I always think about the time my guitar teacher in high school introduced me to the music of Steve Reich nonchalantly, and how that changed my personal music trajectory so profoundly. I like introducing kids to new concepts naturally, through things that they already enjoy, as a way to keep things fresh and open them up to the possibilities in music.
I like to start with the basics, centering in on songs that I learned as a kid. From there I quickly introduce kids to chords on guitar, and we work on rhythm and how that relates to everything. I think rhythm is the most important part of music and I definitely drive that point home, usually by relating it to pop music and things the student already enjoys. I'm not trying to train a musical warrior, as much as I am trying to create a musical explorer. Someone that's curious and is comfortable in any musical situation.
I usually just require that each student has a spiral bound notebook which I will fill with exercises and songs. I like to keep the mood light even as we might be doing very repetitive exercises. I also like to illustrate through example, but figuring songs out on the spot for the student, and playing them other examples of songs that relate to what ever concept we're covering that week. I let the student guide, while slowly suggesting other music to check out, and giving things an historical perspective. I tend to get real nerdy with this stuff, in a way that all music professionals are but that they generally don't want anyone to know about.
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