What is Music Ninja Guru?
Ninja is defined (dictionary.com) as a person who is expert or highly skilled in a specified field or activity (often used attributively).
Guru is defined as: 1) an intellectual or spiritual guide or leader. or 2) any person who counsels or advises; mentor
I want to be the guru who helps you become a music ninja.
I have a lot of experience in a lot of areas ranging from the issues beginners face, such as fear of performing or playing with others, to intermediate players issues, such as how to practice efficiently, to the problems advanced players sometimes struggle with, such as how to keep the motivation going or where to get inspiration.
Through 30-plus years as a professional musician I have lived the ups and downs, the highs, lows, and middles of a musical life. I have experienced truly magical moments on stage, studio, and classroom. I have also struggled through periods where I wanted to quit it all and walk away out of frustration. The intense joys of playing for crowds of 50,000 people or winning a Grammy (2008 with Zappa Plays Zappa) have shaped my life as much as the times where my confidence was so low I wasn’t sure how I’d get out of it. Luckily for me – I did.
And I know how I did it.
I learned early on that the best method of teaching students how to play also focused on how to teach them to think about how to play. To put it more plainly – anyone can show you a lick or a pattern but a great teacher will teach you how to come up with your own licks or patterns. My approach to music has been to pay attention to everything that was going on – musically or not – and to remember each situation. I will show you how to play something but also how to approach a musical situation with the tools to figure out new ideas to fit in musically. This will be helpful in both musical situation and also when you are fighting your personal demons. When the creative muse was absent there are ways to move forward and create. For myself – when I was having a great day I knew how to remember what was happening so I could call on it later. When I was having “one of those days” where I struggled to find my way I had the means to overcome it. This is how we become musicians. I can help guide you on your journey.
Qualifications:
Almost 30 years touring experience with all types of bands in different situations. Chronologically: Maynard Ferguson, Nia Peeples, Natalie Cole, Barry Manilow, Our Rawls, Patti Labelle, The Rippingtons, Manhattan Transfer, and Zappa Plays Zappa.
I was also tour manager for 2 years while playing in Zappa Plays Zappa
TV Session work for Family Guy, Animaniacs, King of the Hill and several movies. Numerous recording session for clients of diverse styles and attitudes.
Curriculum coordinator for the Los Angeles Music Academy (not the L.A. College of Music) Percussion Department for 8 years.
Event Director for Dreamcatcher Events music workshop camps including featured artists Steve Vai, Jowe Satriani, Tommy Emmanuel, John Petrucci, and Todd Rundgren, among others.
In addition to my musical experience I’m also a triathlete having done my first full Ironman at age 52. I also do solo races with the Pacific Single Handed Sailing Association Los Angeles sailing club.
My life has been a study in patience, humility, persistence, and motivation.
If you’d like to read more about what I can do for you please check out the Tell Me More page or click here to fill out an introductory questionnaire and I’ll give you an honest evaluation if I think I can help you grow and be a better musician.