first gig at Basic Necessities

When I was 18, I decided to take a year off from college. One day I was walking around barefoot and shirtless strumming my guitar in the summer sunshine. I walked past the old apple packing shed next door, and discovered it was being turned into a tiny French restaurant and wine shop. The owners saw me walking by and hired me on the spot to play guitar on Friday and Saturday evenings. I performed there twice a week for most of the following year.

I didn’t have any real songs, I just noodled around on my guitar for two hours. People enjoyed the music and I often got hired for other gigs. I was actually a little frustrated with the lack of structure in my playing. I didn’t have the discipline or focus to write proper compositions or learn anyone else’s music. In retrospect it was a wonderful opportunity to develop my skills and original music, but I guess I just wasn’t ready yet. The restaurant is still open in the little village where I grew up: https://basicnecessities.us/ ♫

teachers and collaborators

There are so many wonderful friends and musicians who have guided and encouraged me on my musical journey, I could fill a book with those stories! For now I’ll just share a few meetings and turning points that have been particularly significant.

My first guitar teacher was a classical guitarist named Will Martin, who taught me to read music and learn my first few classical guitar pieces. I didn’t practice as much as I should have, but he was very patient and got me through the first crucial few years.

I didn’t have another guitar teacher until I went to college at Wesleyan University and studied with jazz guitarist Tony Lombardozzi. Working with him was a wonderful opportunity. He taught me music theory, technique, and most importantly how to teach. I have wonderful memories of visiting his studio in the music building every week, and getting my mind blown by his incredible knowledge of guitar and jazz history.

A few years later I was teaching music and living in Charlottesville, VA and had the good fortune of meeting Brazilian guitarist Humberto O Sáles and becoming his first guitar student in the states. Working with Berto was my introduction to flamenco guitar, which was a life changing turning point for me. The techniques and aesthetic of flamenco guitar have become my most important influence in the music I’m composing now. ♫

guitar lessons

My first job in high school was at Cheerio’s Pizza, making sandwiches and delivering pizza in an ancient pickup truck that smelled like hot cardboard and oregano. I got paid $7.50/hr plus tips. That year a high school friend asked me to give him guitar lessons during our lunch break at school. After some careful negotiations he agreed to pay me 8 bucks for a 45 minute lesson. According to my calculations that was just over $10.50/hr, which seemed like a better deal than my other job. So I made flyers to hang at the post office, general store, and any other bulletin board I could find, and I’ve been teaching guitar ever since. Here’s an old version of my guitar lessons flyer.

These days I teach guitar lessons online via zoom, and also have courses in guitar improvisation, playing technique, and chord theory. More info about guitar lessons here: https://www.driftwoodradio.com/guitar-lessons/ ♫