Connor Terrones Guitar Lessons
About
Connor Terrones is a guitarist, composer and private instructor residing in Colorado. He is a young and versatile freelance artist with experience performing and recording jazz, rock, funk, punk, r&b, reggae, and singer-songwriter.
At the age of 17, Terrones attended the Colorado Springs Conservatory to study jazz, classical and musical theatre. He is still an active alumnus for the school, returning regularly to teach and perform alongside the school’s faculty.
At the age of 18, Connor began studying with Steve Kovalcheck at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) to obtain his Bachelor of Music Performance Degree in Jazz Studies with an emphasis in guitar. During his time at UNC, Connor played guitar in the school’s flagship vocal jazz group, Vocal Lab, which earned the 2015 DownBeat Award for Best College Vocal Jazz Ensemble at the Graduate Level. Terrones earned a second DownBeat Award in 2016 for singing in UNC's Vocal Lab. The ensemble that year was given an Outstanding Performance award at the Graduate Level. In the summer of 2016, Connor toured China for two weeks with UNC's DownBeat Award Winning Jazz Lab Band I playing guitar. While on tour, the group performed in world-class concert halls in Beijing, Wuhan, Tianjin, and Changsha. Connor has also had the privilege of playing and studying with some of the biggest names in jazz today, such as: Dave Douglas, Julia Dollison, New York Voices, Gilad Hekselman, Brian Lynch, Bobby Sanabria, Greg Gisbert and Corey Christiansen.
Some of Connor’s professional experience performing in musical theatre productions includes performances of: Fiddler on the Roofin the role of Avram: The Bookseller, Dogfight as a pit/orchestra musician and The Who's Tommy as a pit/orchestra musician.
Terrones previously led the Greeley-based funk/r&b group, The Condors. They played many shows regionally and opened for Nappy Roots, Flobots, and Sir Mix- A-Lot. The group has since disbanded.
Connor graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in spring of 2016. Immediately following his graduation, Connor performed as the guitarist in the orchestra for Celebrity Cruise's Silhouette and Millennium from September 15th 2016-January 26th 2017.
Now at the ripe age of 22, Connor's musical adventure has only just begun.
I enjoy bringing other people joy through listening to music and learning about music. I love the moments where my students come into lessons excited and with lots of new things to show me they worked on.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
When I meet a new student, the first thing I like to do is get to know a bit about them. What school do they go to (or used to go to...if they're older, where do they work?)? What're their interests? What kind of music brings them joy? Then I access where they are ability/experience-wise (I've taught young beginners and I've taught older, advanced students) and see how I can help them grow.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Music: Performance - Jazz Studies w/ a Guitar Emphasis. I've also been performing and teaching for about 8-9 years.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My normal rates are:
$20 for 30 minutes
$30 for 1 hour
I generally charge just a bit more if I have to travel to you, but only enough to cover the gas money.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching when I was in high school when some of the kids in my neighborhood wanted to learn how to play guitar. I've been teaching ever since.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with students of all ages with many different backgrounds. The majority of my students in the past have been children, but I am pretty much always able to get along with anybody.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I recently had the oppurtunity to perform on a cruise ship for 5 months and it was extremely fun! I was able to do so much traveling.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
You should hire a guitar teacher that has performing experience. You should also try to hire a teacher that is going to be friendly and patient, but is also going to be honest and specific about how to improve.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Students should feel free to ask any question regarding the subject that comes to mind. Students should never feel embarassed to ask questions or for clarification, and there is never a stupid question!