BIOGRAPHY
I have been teaching guitar privately in the Berkshires and in Boston since 1990. (this following three and a half years of private guitar study with Jazz and Classical guitarist George Raccio in New Haven, Ct)....What will be focused upon during the lessons is a comprehensive and thorough instruction in various styles of fingerpicking including:
Classical, Flamenco and Stride Guitar...(a brief overview on stride guitar is given below.)
Learn fingerstyle playing techniques used by such guitar
greats as Andres Segovia, Steve Howe and Chet Atkins.
Reading music and many aspects of music theory will be covered such as:
~ Intervals
~ Major and Minor Diatonic Harmony
~ Scales
~ Chord Construction
To hear samples of my playing, go to "YouTube.com" and type "Jeff Kesses" in the search bar.
** Stride Guitar:
Stride guitar is a form of fingerpicking that was first adapted and modified for the guitar by singer and guitarist Merl Travis in the 1940’s. (The technique was taken from “Stride Piano” which was a popular form of piano playing in nightclubs in the 1920’s.) It was further developed and became popularized in the 1950’s by fingerstylist Chet Atkins. It’s a very difficult but very gratifying type of playing that blends folk, jazz and country melodies to produce a very inviting, warm sound. Even when the most basic of songs and compositions are played.
Over the years, this style of playing became and still is a favorite of many fingerstyle guitar players. It was much admired by Beatles guitarist George Harrison. Who was lesser known for his fingerpicking skills but non the less tried to master the style and was known to practice Stride guitar backstage before concerts and during down time in the studio between takes during the Beatles recording sessions.
Stride guitar will be introduced and demonstrated if the student so chooses, but won't be taught until the student has become comfortable and has become accomplished at several other styles of fingerpicking.
EDUCATION
School of the Museum of Fine Arts (1986-1989)
Boston, MA
Diploma - Portraiture / Art History
Dean College (1984-1986)
Frankin, MA
AA - Visual Art
|