Isa Lee
Isa was five, and small for five. I told the Lee's to wait, that progress would be slow and costly and that as she grew she would have to re-coordinate intricate movements. The Lee's wanted to take advantage of her passion so they purchased a half size guitar and started a nightly music tradition. Isa attends Washington University in St. Louis Missouri. My friend Eric filmed this video at my studio a week before she left for school. Russian Memories was written by Fernando Sor in honor his meeting with Dionisio Aguado. They met in Russia because Sor fought for Napoléon and Aguado for Spain. Neither country would suffer them both.
Chris Yeaton
Chris Yeaton
There was a coffee shop next to the music store where I taught in Benicia, CA. If a student canceled I would walk next door to play for their customers. Chris happened by and was riveted on every note. Chris started lessons and was willing to practice some demanding exercises. We became friends and musical associates, sharing the stage both locally and on tour. Chris is known mostly as a slack key guitarist and has toured nationally with John Keawe and Keola Beamer. Chris is active in promoting the woodsong acoustic group www.woodsongacoustics.com
Scott Burwell
Scott Burwell
My former student and friend Barry Holloway called asking if I would teach his son. I told Barry I was not aware he had a son, and Barry said “I wasn't either until last week”. Scotts mother had kept this secret since she last saw Barry 16 years before. Barry's family had planned an extended trip to India before Scott called to introduce himself and time didn't allow Scott to undergo required preliminaries. Since Tony Mansfield from Oregon also wanted to do a guitar mentorship program I moved with my two children to a large house in Lafayette with an upstairs apartment. Tony and Scott became big brothers to my children and both excelled musically. Scott is now owner of Holloway harp guitars where he employs various luthiers, web, and other technical assistants. Here we feature here is his own composition which he dedicates to his mother Kay. He intended it to be played by his friend Michael Hedges until Michael's fatal car accident. Michael couldn't have represented the piece better than Scott's performance here.
More bios coming soon...