Van

Certified Tutor

I have been playing the guitar and bass for cumulatively 11 years now. So I guess I have played for half of my life. Like many others, I started playing from the inspiration of my father. I have taken lessons with the Warwick-endorsed Jorge Casas, bass player for Gloria Estefans Miami Sound Machine, professor at Greenville College, and Santana collaborator. I participated in the Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville Jazz program for a year and a half until, due to my love of reading and writing, I changed my major to Philosophy while pursuing an English minor. During this time, I took classes such as Music Theory, Aural skills, Jazz Combo, and Jazz Applied Lessons. The lessons were with Zeb Briskovich who just recently went on tour with Jimmy Buffet. Even after my departure from the program, I have continued to progress, and take Guitar lessons from a senior in the program. In my spare time, I play professionally with the funk group, Empire Groove. We have played at local St. Louis venues such as the Delmar Hall, The Blueberry Hill Duck Room, and Kirkwood Station. In the past, I played with 3 metal bands. Im well versed in a variety of genres-Jazz,blues,funk,reggae,metal,punk,rock/roll and can teach through the mediums of written sheet music, tablature, chord charts, or by ear. If you want to get better, I can absolutely guide you in the right direction.