Dave G Music

Dave Giardina is an award recipient member of the CT Commission on Culture and Tourism, he has performed extensively throughout the Northeast at major festivals, bandshells, First Nights, schools, clubs and both casinos as a soloist and with ensembles. His compositions are featured on two releases by the CT Guitar Society of which he is a founding member and presently serving as artistic director.

He founded 2 Latin ensembles in the early 90s: Fiesta del Norte, an educational Mariachi band and Goza Latin Jazz, playing rhythms from all of Latin America. Dave also plays mandolin, banjo and many other string instruments from different cultures.

He has been featured with both the Hartford and Holyoke Symphony Orchestras and played guitar, banjo and mandolin chair in many musicals at the Hotchkiss School, Loomis Chafee and Westminster Acadamies, Seven Angels Theater, La Mama (NYC) and Real Art Ways under renown avant garde conductor, Butch Morris.

Dave received his B.A. from St. Anselm College and studied music at the Longy School in Boston. He studied classical guitar with Sharon Isbin and Phil DeFremery, and master classes with John Williams, Manuel Barrueco, Ben Verdery, Oscar Ghiglia, Abel Carlevaro and Pepe Romero.

He also studied jazz with Sal Salvador, Tommy Tedesco and Joe Beck and flamenco with Mario Escudero and Paco Peña.

He has taught for many years on the faculties of Trinity, St. Joseph and Manchester Community Colleges, the Hartford Conservatory, Loomis Chaffee and other music academies as well as privately in his home studio in East Hartford.

I am dedicated to teaching anyone who wishes to learn and develop their skills on guitar.

I stress using your ear, getting a good feel on your instrument, routine practice habits, and playing with others as a basis for growing as a musician.

Learning and memorizing chords are an important element of any style of guitar playing.

Lessons are personalized and are geared toward the goals set by the student and teacher.

Both tab and standard notation can be used depending on your choice.

I teach both fingerstyle and pickstyle as it applies to the variety of musical genres of each. I also teach mandolin, banjo, and bass guitar.

I utilize student selected music and interweave technique and theory around it.

Learning an instrument should be fun but, like any sport, will not yield results unless you put the time in on the court.

Students are encouraged to play with others as much as possible.

Lessons at my East Hartford studio are $20 per half hour and are offered in the following styles:

- classical ( beginner to intermediate level)

- folk/celtic/ethnic

- rock/blues (electric or acoustic)

- jazz / latin jazz ( beginner to intermediate level)

- Spanish/ flamenco (beginner to intermediate level)

- arranging for solo guitar - choosing a tune and making it playable at your level of ability.