Scott Topel |
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| Guitar |
| Education |
| Scott has an A.S. in Environmental Studies, and a B.M. with honors in Music with a focus in guitar performance. He has attended many master classes, studying with Ben Verdery and Nick Gollusus. |
| Performing and Teaching Experience |
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Scott has played guitar for over 14 years and has studied and experienced music from countries around the world, including Ecuador, India and Kashmir. He teaches classical, folk, blues, and jazz guitar, as well as improvisation and songwriting. He has taught private guitar lesson for six years in New York City and Santa Cruz. He also teaches guitar at West Coast Music and Dance FX in Hollister. In addition, he has led wilderness exploration after-school programs in upstate New York. Scott has performed in Scotland and India, at the UCSC recital hall, and in many clubs and music venues in Santa Cruz. |
| At CSMA |
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Scott joined the CSMA music faculty in 2007. He teaches private guitar lessons and Adventures in Music (including a bilingual version) with a focus on early music fundamentals. |
| Teaching Philosophy and Approach |
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“The guitar is a hand-to-mind coordination instrument, and understanding music in its entirety through the guitar is my goal. I teach in a very hands-on way. I avoid talking too much about a given approach. I teach the physical approach to guitar playing at first, and then present musical concepts through actually playing, always with music that interests the student, so they remain engaged. I encourage the music my students wish to learn, interspersed with technical training to give them the foundation to do so. The lessons must always cultivate the essence of playing music: to have fun! |
| Personal |
| Website: |