Hello,

My first instrument was the drums at age 5.

My older brother played guitar in a band that practiced in our garage, so I would play the drums and guitars when he was gone, and pretend to be Paul McCartney.

 My brother had records by the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Cream.  At age 6 I would sit and listen to “Sergeant Pepper” over and over.

My mother also loved music, and always had the radio on, so thankfully she put the sounds of Billy Joel, Elton John, Bread, Jim Croce, Steely Dan etc. and many other great artists of the 70’s into my ears. We also listened to Big Band and Jazz.

I started playing guitar around 1976.

As a young teen I got into Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Frank Marino, and Led Zeppelin. During this time I learned how to pick out songs by ear.

I played in my first band then, what a great memory!

At 17 I started to listen to Rush, Foreigner, Queen, and Journey.

Then I became aware of Pop/Jazz/Rock fusion such as Jean-Luc Ponty, Larry Carlton, etc.

In the 80’s I got “swept away” (pun intended!) by the “Shred” scene.

I really liked Paul Gilbert, Yngwie, Tony Macalpine and Vinnie Moore.

I lived near San Francisco and played gigs around Northern California.

Later I moved to the East Coast and played in some weird bands!

 I enrolled in the Wolfman School of Music near Boston, Ma.

I took guitar lessons and theory classes and learned to read and write music.

I met some great players and teachers at that school.

The present....My all time faves are - The Beatles,Rush,Journey,and Chicago.

At this point I really respect the disciplines of Jazz and Classical guitar.

I have studied the music of  J. S. Bach, The Beatles, Rush, Chick Corea, Frank Zappa, Sting,  Bartok’, Chopin, Edward Van Halen, Steely Dan, Michael Hedges, Tom Waits, Eric Johnson, John Coltrane,  Miles Davis, Journey, Allan Holdsworth, Thelonious Monk, Z.Z. Top…………….

I am a versatile player and have worked in bands of all types. I have played Soul and Pop Jazz, Hard Rock, (classic and modern), Latin music, Country and Blues.

I also play nylon string - Baroque/Classical/Spanish, etc.

I can also play a little piano, bass, and drums.

For information on my personal teaching methods and philosophy click here.

Thanks!

Andrew Burt