Steve Gray Teaches Guitar, Bass, Piano, Voice, And Pro Tools

Steve Gray Teaches Guitar, Bass, Piano, Voice, And Pro Tools

5.0(1 review)
Offers online services
Offers online services

About

I've been playing guitar since 1966. I havea Master's Degree in classical guitar from San Jose State University, but I have been playing rock and roll, some jazz, and country for years.

I taught Jazz and Pop Voice and Music Appreciation at West Valley College in Saratoga. I have a unique approach of teaching popular vocal singing technique that is informed by workshops that I took with famed vocal clinician Joseph Klein. I have been a nightclub singer for years, and you can see some of my recent demos for the Gray Diamond Show on YouTube.

I recorded an early karaoke product: "The Legacy of a King," which featured 24 Elvis Presley songs, including 5 recorded with orchestra. This set, sold in the days of cassette tapes, was distributed through the United States and Canada with some acclaim. This was recorded in the days of 8-track, 16-track, and 24-track open reel tape.

I studied flamenco guitar with Guillermo Rios and can help you learn fundamentals of rasgueado (flamenco guitar strumming) and the compas (rhythmic structure) of the various flamenco toques (dance and song forms like Soleares, Bulerias, Alegrias, etc.)

I can help you learn the basics of bass guitar and how it relates to the drums and rhythm instruments to support the ensemble sound in popular music, rock and roll, and country.

The same is true for piano. I teach how to play popular music, reading skills, soloing, rhythmic patterns, classical music as it relates to popular styles, right and left hand independence and interdepence. This can also be applied to playing the manuals for organ and synthesizers.

For all instruments, I will teach you how to listen to recorded music and write down what you hear for your instrument so you can learn to play it. This will lead you to learn how to put together your own accompaniments and solos for original songs. In the course of this process, we will apply principles of music theory to see how an ensemble sound works.

I am a Certified Pro Tools Operator and can teach you how that software works for recording and editing, as well as fundamentals of sound design and recording for video. I can give you guidance on finding inexpensive microphones that give professional results. Pro Tools has been the primary software for recording in the industry for over 15 years.

While "in-person" lessons are advised in the early stages, more advanced lessons can be given via Skype.


Highlights

Hired 2 times
1 employee
42 years in business
Serves Santa Clara , CA
Offers online services

Specialties

Musical styles

Rock, Country, Blues, Folk, Classical, Recommendations available

Guitar style

Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar

Has instrument

Student who have a guitar

Years experience

No formal training, No formal training; some self-taught experience, 0 – 2 years experience, 2 – 4 years experience, 4+ years of experience

Able to read music

Students who can read music staff, Students who can read guitar tabs, Students who cannot read music

Lesson length

45 minutes, 60 minutes

Student's age

11 – 13 years old, 14 – 18 years old, 19 – 25 years old, 26 – 45 years old, 46 – 65 years old, Over 65 years old

Reviews

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GS

Greg S.

Steve is personable and knowledgeable. He is patient and persistent. He has gone the extra mile by making lesson videos for me when it was obvious that this was the best way for me to learn.
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June 12, 2018

Frequently asked questions

At the initial lesson, we see where the student is at that time with their capability of playing the instrument and their understanding of music and "how it works".  What kind of music do they want to play?  Are there particular artists that they like?  How much time are they willing to devote to the instrument?  Then we determine a path that they will need to follow to achieve their goals.  I took a workshop with Howard Roberts that helps a student learn in a concentrated manner relatively quickly, after they have the fundamentals down.

Masters Degree in Classical Guitar from San Jose State University.

Certified Pro Tools Operator

Extensive recording experience, playing all the instruments in the recording.

Joseph Klein Vocal Clinic series

Studied flamenco guitar with Guillermo Rios and accompanied flamenco dance classes for Ambiente Espanol for 1 1/2 years.

As a teacher at West Valley College, I worked with everyone from beginners to those with experience in Musical Theater.  Several of my students went on to careers in Cabaret, recording, church service leading, and concert performances.

Do they listen to what you want to learn, or do they insist on following their set course of instruction?  Do they show you how their course of instruction will lead you to your musical goals?

What direction do they want to go in musically?  Do they want to pursue a classical path with competitions?  Do they want to be able to play in a band?  Do they want to eventually make their own recordings?  Do they want to sing in musical theater?  Do they want to be able to play in an ensemble for church or in a pit band accompanying musical theater?  Would they like to be able to produce a music track for video?  These all have different demands of a teacher.


Services offered

Guitar
Piano
Singing
Bass Guitar
Music Theory
Audio Production
Synthesizer