Christopher Acquavella started playing guitar at the age of ten. He studied guitar with Robert Hoth and Peter Pupping. Since the early 1990s, Chris has performed as a classical guitarist/mandolinist and also with many rock bands playing both electric guitar and bass. He has released three albums for Why? Distro, Facedown Records and Tooth and Nail Records. Chris Acquavella graduated First Class Honours with a BMus (Hons) degree in Performance from Trinity College of Music, London, England. He studied under the instruction of Alison Stephens and participated in Master Class with German virtuoso, Caterina Lichtenberg. In 2004, Chris won the Wolfsan Foundation Music Award and in 2006 he was awarded the TCM Trust Silver Medal. Chris has performed at major venues across Europe and America, both in a solo and chamber music capacity. Prices: $30 per 30 minute lesson, $50 per 60 minutes and $120 for two 60 minute lessons per month.

Mobile: (858) 380-7328
www.chrisacquavella.com

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Drew Decker-Guitar and Bass

My focus is to teach the basic principles of music theory and get you started playing songs you like. We can draw from my database of songs, or you can bring in specific music you want to learn. For those interested in improvising and soloing, we'll work out the various scale positions and rehearse them using prerecorded musical background tracks.

Credentials:
• U. C. Santa Cruz—Music Theory Program: 1990-1992
• Masters of Science in Instructional Technology—NU: 2007
• USO band tour to Thule, Greenland: 2004
• Two San Diego Music Award Nominations: 2003, 2004

 
Half-Hour: $95/month (four lessons per month)
Full-Hour: $145/month (four lessons per month)

(858) 449-8597

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Kev-Guitar

(Specializing in beginner adult and kids age 8-12)
Kev (Kevin Rones) is the founder of the San Diego Guitar Society, a solo acoustic performer, top competitor in the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championships, and a promoter of the Perfect Pitch an Acoustic Underground concerts.

The Mentoring program is more than just a guitar lesson. You don't have to be Great to Start. But you Must Start to be Great. My focus is teaching you how to become a better player. You will learn techniques to improve your playing and I work with each student to help them achieve their personal playing goals.

My rate is $25 per 1/2 hour Mentoring session. $45 for a 1-hour session.

kev@kevmusic.com

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Kathleen Paseka – Violin / Fiddle

• Bluegrass Fiddle
• Celtic Fiddle (Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, P.E.I)
• Old Time Fiddle
• Suzuki Violin Instruction (Beginning books)
• Traditional Instruction

Kathleen Paseka started studying violin in 1975 playing solo performances in classical and folk music. She has studied violin and fiddling with the great Scottish Fiddler Bonnie Rideout and Cape Breton fiddler and composer Jerry Holland. She has studio recording experience with several local performers and has performed  at The Barn in Margaree, Inverness County, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada for a series starring internationally acclaimed fiddlers Buddy MacMaster and Howie MacDonald videotaped for the Discovery Chanel 10/13/2000. Kathleen and her students have been filmed on several local television specials including Irish in San Diego and KPBS (San Diego).
She and her students have played special performances for the San Diego Wild Animal Park’s Festival of Lights and for the sneak preview documentary Small Wonders at the Ken Theater in Kensington, San Diego (1995). Kathleen was primary Suzuki instructor and orchestra director for Oak Park Music Conservatory, teaching violin to Kindergarten through 5th grades, orchestra for the 4th and 5th grades, and volunteer violin coach at San Diego School of Creative  and Performing. She’s been teaching adults and children (starting at age 3) privately since 1997 at House of Strings, Acoustic Expressions and Old Time Music in San Diego.
My primary goal is to teach my students to have fun while learning their instrument and to get them playing real music right away with emphasis on learning to read music, expression and intonation.

Half Hour: $25 / Lesson or $95 pay per month.
Full Hour:  $40 / Lesson or $150 pay per month.

Mobile: 619-274-2865
teachmefiddle@yahoo.com

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Walt Richards-Banjo, Guitar, and Mandolin

• Bluegrass and Clawhammer Banjo
• Fingerpicking and Flatpicking Guitar
• Bluegrass, Old Time, and Irish Mandolin

Walt Richards began performing while still in high school, having taken up guitar at age 15. Within a year he had gravitated to banjo, soon becoming one of southern California's best known players, with multiple wins at Topanga in the 60's and 70's. Lessons are 30 minutes long and are offered in a comfortable, air-conditioned studio located in the Old Time Music Store on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday's from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

(619) 282-0228 (Studio)
WaltRichards@cox.net

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Wayne Riker -Guitar

Wayne has taught privately since 1973, beginning in New York City ('73 and '74), Topeka, Kansas ('75-'78), Rochester, Minnesota ('79), and now in San Diego (since 1980). He has become recognized as a well know guitar clinician and educator throughout the world with his instructional columns in Guitar Player, Acoustic Guitar, and Acoustic Musician magazines, as well as his seven instructional books and two instructional DVD's with Alfred Publishing’s Workshop Arts series, which have been successful learning tools for many students all around the globe. He was a faculty member at the National Guitar Workshop for seventeen years (1990-2006), conducting summer clinics in Austin, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, and the New York City area.

• Tuesdays only, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  
• Half-hour lessons
  
• $90 a month
  
• All Styles, acoustic, electric, beginning to advanced

(619) 463-1895
wayne@waynerikerguitar.com
Check his web page for more information: waynerikerguitar.com

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Daniele Spadavecchia-Guitar

Daniele Spadavecchia was born and raised in Italy. He began playing guitar at the age of 16 in local bands. After High School graduation he decided to undertake music as a career. Since then he studied guitar and music in all styles with professional teachers and practical experience.

This led him to become an accomplished performer and singer, having played for New Orleans Jazz Festival, TV and Radio shows, clubs, restaurants, corporate and private events, concerts, churches, cruises, even Italian gondolas!

Daniele taught guitar for 15 years in music schools, guitar studios and private lessons, basing his method on a mix of technique and theory and the personal taste of each student.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR:
-Gypsy Jazz, style of Django Reihardt (Pick Style)
-Rumba Flamenco, like Gypsy Kings (Finger Style)

ELECTRIC BLUES GUITAR:
-Chicago Blues, ala Buddy Guy
-Texas Blues, ala Stevie Ray Vaughan
-B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Albert Collins, Hendrix, etc.
-Funk and Rhythm & Blues

(619) 602-6300
Check his web page for more information: www.dsjazz.net

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Robert R. Rotzler-Violin

Has performed, recorded and taught the violin, viola and mandolin in the greater San Diego area for 37 years. He is currently the lead violinist, mandolinist and musical director of the nationally award-winning Middle Earth Ensemble, one of the country's leading "world-beat" groups. He has performed in various orchestras on three continents and recently returned from an 11 day concert tour of the Hawai'ian Islands.

(619) 246-5474

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Susan Simmons-Voice

Ms. Simmons graduated with honors from the University of Kansas earning a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory.  She has a Master of Music degree in Applied Voice from the University of WI-Milwaukee.

In addition to voice lessons, other teaching includes Vocal Music (Elementary School) and Kodaly Musicianship at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.

She has performed extensively in musicals, operattas, plays and murder mystery dinner theater in Milwaukee, Chicago and San Diego at the Skylight Theater, Candlelight Dinner Theater, Marquis Public Theatre, Lyric Opera San Diego, and CCT. 

Specializing in Bel Canto and musical comedy styles, she has also worked with Jazz and Gospel singers.  Beginners of all ages welcome.

♫     Study breathing techniques.
♫     Increase your range.
♫     Don’t be pitchy – improve your intonation.
♫     Become an even greater asset to your choir.
♫     Gain confidence through Performance Workshops.
♫     Get that role – prepare audition pieces.

(858) 349-8490

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Bari Zwirn-Guitar

Bari Zwirn is a self taught guitarist who especially enjoys teaching beginning musicians. Whether you're a young child who has never played before, or an adult who just wants to play camp fire "sing alongs", Bari is comfortable helping you coordinate strumming, chording and singing.  Focus will be on keeping rhythm, finding your vocal key, and becoming comfortable with simple styles of playing. Theory and tablature are touched on but not emphasized.

When not teaching guitar, Bari is a classroom teacher. She also plays and sings in a local folk/pop group www.woodnlips.com and helps to host a weekly open mic, currently held in Rancho San Diego on Thursday nights.

Lessons are 25-30 minutes and cost $25.00. Bari is also available to lead school assemblies. Contact her at bzwirn@sdcoe.net or cell:  954-594-0068.

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