Your Classical Guitar Input Here

From Metal to Rock to Jazz to Classical back again.

by Melvin Williams
(Corning, NY)

I started out like every other guitarist trying to learn chords, and eventually songs by my favorite guitarists. Then I discovered, the local library where I found recordings of everything from punk, to delta blues, to jazz, and of course classical guitar.

Many years later after studying with a couple of local guitar teachers, I began to desire the expertise to play jazz guitar.

The one school that looked promising, wanted me to study classical first with the chance to play in the Jazz Ensemble.

So at Mansfield U I learned how to play classical guitar, became a performance major, played in the Jazz Ensemble, put together a couple of Jazz combos.

As soon as I graduated with a BM I found myself playing a local Indie Rock band, teaching 30 students a week, and so forth.

Now I teach at local community college, I practice every day, everything from classical, to Jazz, to Rock and Blues, and I even play bluegrass with some friends.

Now I want to go back and earn my master's degree in Musicology or Performance.

I still teach some students how to play metal guitar as well.

That's my story, what's yours?