Curriculum vitae
EDUCATION
PhD Musicology, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, 2009
MA Classical Guitar Performance, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, 2007
BA Jazz and Studio Guitar Performance, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, 1999; Minor: Music Education
Primary Music Instruction History
Classical guitar and Vihuela with Jack Sanders, 2003-2006 Protégé of jazz educator-pianist Jimmy Amadie, 1993-2002
Protégé of jazz guitarist Jimmy Bruno, 1989-1997
Jazz and Latin guitar with Robert Dinardo, 1997-1999 Jazz piano with David Hartl, 1996-1997
Classical piano with Dr. Annette Dimedio, 1995-1996
Music theory, sight-singing, and harmony with Michael Stairs, 1990-1994
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Director and Music/Guitar Instructor, Dr. G Studio, Berkeley, Claremont, and Los Angeles, CA, 2012-
Teaching private in-person and online students music theory, improvisation, harmony, ear training, and sight-reading.
Guitar Instructor, Claremont Community School, Claremont, CA, 2002-2012 Responsible for teaching all levels of guitar students (from the ages 4-70+) fundamentals of music and the guitar: theory, technique, harmony, and sight-reading in both one-on-one and group settings. Faculty representative to the Board of Directors from 2002-2006. Head of the guitar department 2007-2012.
Guitar Instructor, Mt. San Jacinto College, Menifee, CA, 2010-2011
Responsible for teaching a weekly guitar class of twenty guitar students. Created a syllabus covering: sight-reading, applied harmony, ear-training, and development of guitar-playing technique.
Guest Guitar Instructor, ArtistWorks/Jimmy Bruno Guitar Institute, Napa, CA 2010-2011
Recorded several instructional videos as a guest artist for over 1200 guitar students. Videos focused on improvisation, accompaniment, and cultivating effective practicing techniques.
Graduate Assistant, Scripps College, Claremont, CA, 2005-2007
Organized and taught music labs for Fundamentals of Music and Music Theory I, II, III, and IV classes for music majors and non-music majors; reported students’ progress weekly to several music professors.
Guitar Instructor, Forman Elementary School, Melrose Park, PA, 2000-2002
Guitar Instructor, Stern Elementary School, Wynnewood, PA, 2000-2002 Developed a comprehensive curriculum for teaching several guitar classes (grades 3-6) between both schools. Classes sizes were between three and six students. Organized semi-annual student recitals.
Upland Yamaha Music School, Upland, CA. 2002-05
Teaching individual and group guitar lessons to mostly beginner guitar students from ages 7-55; covering music theory, technique, harmony, and sight-reading.
Trappe Community Music School, Trappe, PA. 1999-02
Taught individual and group guitar lessons to students of varying ability levels; conducted weekly guitar classes (an outreach program) to students of St. Mary’s Elementary School in Schwenksville, PA.
The New Jersey School of Music, Haddonfield, NJ. 1999-02
Taught individual guitar lessons to students of varying abilities, ages 8-55 years.
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Joined Grammy-nominated vocalist Frank Stallone’s band in 2011.
Performs jazz, rock, classical, country, blues, pop, and Latin American styles.
Performed with many leading musicians including: bassist Jennifer Leitham, organist Joey Defrancesco, trumpeter Arturo
Sandoval, and saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr.
International Tours and Performances
Bagni di Lucca, and Rome, Italy | July 2014
Tokyo, Japan; Hong Kong and Beijing, China | August 2010
London, England; Paris, France | August 2008
Edmonton and Calgary, Canada | March 2007
Tokyo, Japan | July-August 1998 and 1997
PUBLISHED BOOKS
Billy Bean: The Life and Music of a Jazz Guitar Legend (Berkeley: Red Note Press, 2013).
A Guitarist’s Guide to Chord Construction Volume 1: Root-Position Voicings (Berkeley: Red Note Press, 2015).
A Guitarist’s Guide to Chord Construction Volume 2: Inversions (Berkeley: Red Note Press, 2017).
A Guitarist’s Guide to Harmonizing Melodies (Berkeley: Red Note Press, 2019).
A Guitarist’s Guide to Music Theory Fundamentals (Berkeley: Red Note Press, 2020).
A Guitarist’s Guide to Sight Reading. Volume 1: Treble Strings (Berkeley: Red Note Press, 2021).
A Guitarist’s Guide to Sight Reading. Volume 2: Bass and Treble Strings (Berkeley: Red Note Press, 2022).
AWARDS
Pennsylvania All-State Jazz Band Guitarist n 1992-94
Best of Berkeley Guitar Teacher n 2021
AUDIO PRODUCTION AND COMPUTER SKILLS
Music: Finale, Sibelius, Digital Performer, Reaper, Transcribe 8
General: MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Premiere Pro CC