Guitar Departments
- Santa Fe Guitar Academy
The best guitar instruction, available in person at our sunny studio in Santa Fe NM, or through SKYPE.
- Bolton Guitar Studies Program
- The Bolton Guitar Studies Program at the University of Arizona is the world's leading guitar department.
- UNM
Michael Chapdelaine runs New Mexico's largest guitar department, and have trained some excellent players.
Luthiers
- Keith Vizcarra
Keith makes some of the greatest guitars I've ever seen - wonderful playability and beautiful, responsive tone. As a close friend, he is kind enough to take time from his building schedule to the maintenance on my guitars. He has a long waiting list, but I'm sure we'll end up collaborating on an instrument. By collaborating I mean he makes it, I play.
- Robert Ruck
In my opinion, simply the best guitars in the world. I play a 2010 composite top.
- Gioachino Giussani
Gioachino Giussani makes amazing guitars. I play a 1996 one.
- Sergio Abreu - luthier
It seems Sergio doesn't have a website - I'll post it as soon as I hear about it. I play a beautiful 1988 one, with ocelot's ear (orelha de onca) back and sides.
- Dake Traphagen
Dake has been building some of the finest guitars in the US for nearly 40 years.
- Paul Fischer
Wonderfully elegant sound, stunningly beautiful instruments.
- Eric Sahlin
Beautiful instruments by a wonderful guy. Gorgeous sound, and some of the most beautiful craft you'll ever see.
- Michael Thames
Micheal has made hundreds of guitars, and has some very interesting designs.
- David Daily
I've known many of David's guitars over the years, played by close friends. They are first-rate in every way.
- Gregory Byers
One of the top luthiers in the USA, Greg's guitars exude good taste.
- Stephan Conor
I've only tried one guitar by Connor, but it made a very strong impression.
- Brian Dunn
Brian doesn't seem to have a website. His composite-top guitars are among the very best, but his work is all-around outstanding.
- Martin Woodhouse
Martin has been building in the tradition of David Rubio, and developing his own take on those ideas.
- Jeremy Cooper
When I searched for a young up-and-coming luthier to order a guitar for Adams State College, I was recommended to Jeremy by many people who know what they're talking about. He's a fine luthier with a clear idea of what he wants, great craftsmanship, and is great to work with.
- Steve Ganz
Steve's guitars are a labor of love, and it shows. He has reached a high standard of craft, with a personal voice.
- Antonio Tessarin
Tessarin has been building some of the finest guitars in Brazil for decades.
- Samuel Carvalho
One of Brazil's most innovative luthiers. I've tried a couple of his guitars and enjoyed them a lot!
- Peter Tsiorba
Peter makes very fine classical and flamenco guitars. I had the pleasure of visiting his shop, trying his guitars, and picking his brain, and all three were mighty fine.
Musician friends
- Aliekey Vianna
Aliéksey is equally at home performing classical guitar solos, concerti, chamber works, jazz and Brazilian music with unique artistry and a technical expertise that are compelling to critics and the general public.
- Bruce Dunlap
Bruce's "shimmering portraits" as Jazz Times called them, often sound like they are being played by more than one guitarist. Impeccable taste, dazzling technique.
- Paulo Martelli
Paulo Martelli is one of the greatest guitar players I know. Extremely refined, and deeply moving.
- Conrado Paulino
I was extremely fortunate to study with Conrado Paulino as a teenager. He is a master musician who commands the idioms of Brazilian jazz with impeccable taste and rare sophistication.
- Carl Berstein
Great teacher and guitarist.
- Duo 46
Duo 46 is violinist Beth Ilana Schneider and guitarist Matt Gould. They are cooler than you.
- David Leisner
An extraordinarily versatile musician with a multi-faceted career
as an electrifying performing artist, a distinguished composer, and a master teacher.- Ellen Chavez de Leitner
Half of Duo Guadalupe.
- Michael Lich
Guitarist, banjo player, and composer
- Quaternaglia
One of the top contemporary classical guitar ensembles, known for their artistic excellence and for their contributions to the expansion of the guitar quartet repertoire.
- Brazilian Guitar Quartet
The Brazilian Guitar Quartet has established itself as one of world's leading guitar ensembles.
- Thomas Patterson
Fabulous teacher, expressive player. Tom runs the best guitar department in the world.
- James Doyle
Percussion professor at Adams State College. He has the most beautiful dog in the world.
- Joseph V. Williams
Guitarist and composer.
- Gabriel Ayala
A member of the Yaqui people of southern Arizona, Gabriel Ayala is at the forefront of a new generation of Native Americans making a career performing classical music.
- Matthew Schildt
Composer and professor.
- Eduardo Minozzi Costa
A Brazilian musician of outstanding facility and musical insight.
- Quarteto Tau
Four of the best guitar players in Brazil.
- Henrique Pinto
My teacher in Brazil, and an inspiring friend, who I miss dearly.
- Celina Bordallo Charlier
Brazilian Flutist in NY. We played together in Sao Paulo in the late 80s!
- Aaron Grad
Composer and guitarist Aaron Grad reviews for the Washington Post and writes program notes for the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. He wrote the wonderful liner notes for my Spanish Guitar Music album.
Recomended material
- Guitar Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar
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Home site for The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar - I recommend this book to all my students even before we start lessons.
- The Musician's Way - Gerald Klickstein
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Gerald Klickstein's fantastic book for musicians is a must-read for all music students.
In The Musician's Way, veteran performer and educator Gerald Klickstein combines the latest research with his 30 years of professional experience to provide aspiring musicians with a roadmap to artistic excellence. Part I, Artful Practice, describes strategies to interpret and memorize compositions, fuel motivation, collaborate, and more. Part II, Fearless Performance, lifts the lid on the hidden causes of nervousness and shows how musicians can become confident performers. Part III, Lifelong Creativity, surveys tactics to prevent music-related injuries and equips musicians to tap their own innate creativity. Written in a conversational style, The Musician's Waypresents an inclusive system for all instrumentalists and vocalists to advance their musical abilities and succeed as performing artists.
- Musiciansway.com
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MusiciansWay.com serves all singers and instrumentalists who strive for musical excellence. In tandem with the 360-page book The Musician’s Way by Gerald Klickstein, the resources on this site help musicians to:
- Enhance practice and performance skills
- Expand musical knowledge
- Overcome performance anxiety
- Foster creativity
- Collaborate amicably
- Build music careers
- Boost health and prevent music-related injuries
- Become productive artists
- Pumping Nylon
- Cool book with technical solutions for common problems.
- Iceland Guitar School
A family of guitarists in Iceland that has a great website with PDF of classical etudes and pieces, arrangements, methods, graded ensemble pieces and original music.
- Tuning the Guitar by Ear
The book doesn't only give you a great way to tune accurately and quickly on stage, but walks you step-by-step through preliminary exercises that will facilitate the job. Dr. Klickstein is in the top rank of guitar teachers world-wide and writes clearly and with practical insight.
- Guitar 99
Free scores and more
- Tom Pankhurst's Guide to Schenkerian Analysis
This is the companion website to SchenkerGUIDE: A Brief Handbook and Website for Schenkerian Analysis, published by Routledge. The site includes resources for both students and educators. A great place to start your Schenkerian quest for world domination!
Accessories
- Karura Cases
- The best flight case in the world.
- Savarez Strings
Great strings. I use their 510 CRJ set.
- Strings by Mail
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A great place to get strings and accessories.
I use D'Addario normal tension strings. I used the Titanium trebles and Pro Arte basses for a long time, and still do on the Abreu and Giussani guitars. On the Ruck I use their EXP set with the original trebles.
- Kling-On Guitar Products
I use their stabilizer and top protector.
- Hiscox Cases
- Great guitar cases.
- D'Addario Strings
Great, consistent strings.
Other services
- Clarion Musical Instrument Insurance
For many years, I have had the piece of mind Clarion offers. Their service, when I needed to file a claim, was excellent. Their coverage is wide, and their rates are good. What's not to love?
- Scott Cadenasso - Recording Engineer
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Scott recorded the "Guitar Music of Spain" CD, then mastered it beautifully.
Contact him at scottboy7@gmail.com
- InSight Foto
InSight Foto is New Mexico's premier photography and videography studio, and provides the highest professional photography standards. They did my latest PR shots. Babak and Kathy are great!
- Ben Chrisman Photography
Ben gave me a picture from a wedding we were both working at, and it turned out to be the best PR picture I had ever had - it's in the photo page. Check out his page - it's beautiful work.
- Diskmakers
They designed the cover art and produced my "Guitar Music of Spain" CD and that is some GREAT service.