FROM BLUES TO BLUEGRASS
We specialize in teaching many folk instruments ranging from upright bass, mandolin, and banjo, to harmonica, dulcimer, and concertina. Many of these folk instruments are often found in bluegrass, country, blues, and folk music.
PERFECT GATEWAY INSTRUMENT
This makes the dulcimer a popular choice as a “gateway instrument” for those who want to spend more time playing songs than focusing on playing a challenging instrument. We can have you playing a dulcimer in the first 15 minutes of your first lesson!
SONG BASED APPROACH
Mandolin, banjo, harmonica, and concertina are unique sounding folk instruments that require a little more technique and time spent learning. Our professional instructors often use a song-based approach when teaching folk instruments. With this method, we can teach technique, theory, playing by ear, and learning to read music through songs that the student enjoys listening to. This makes practicing the instrument feel less like “practice” and more like playing!
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR!
Brennen Reece (Guitar/Bass/Banjo)
Brennen Reece has been playing guitar for nearly 40 years, and studied with legendary Philadelphia jazz guitarist Steve Giordano, as well as Pat Martino, Bruce Forman, and Tim Lerch. In addition to jazz, he has a deep love for traditional American music such as delta blues, ragtime, country, and rockabilly. His influences include a diverse range of guitarists such as Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Page, Jerry Reed, and Mississippi John Hurt. In addition to teaching fundamentals and effective practice techniques, Brennen focuses on developing the student’s creative self-expression through a no-nonsense approach to theory, improvisation, composition, and ear-training. Brennen performs with his wife Britt in The Secret Sounds, a duo whose repertoire includes mid century jazz, classic blues, soul, and old-school country!
Tom Spicer (Upright Bass/Mandolin/Harmonica/Ukulele)
Tom received his first instrument at age four - a ukulele, which he still has! At age seven he got a set of Ricky Ricardo drums, and by ten he played trumpet in the school band. When he entered high school, Tom switched to valve trombone, baritone, and euphonium. While in college, he was exposed to harmonica and bought all the records he could find with a harmonica in the production. Since harmonicas are in a specific key, Tom learned guitar to tell what chords were in each song so he’d know what harmonica was needed to play along! Tom loves all styles of music and has played in folk, country, bluegrass, jazz, and contemporary music groups - His latest being a Jazz grass band for 30+ years. Besides the harmonica, Tom's main instruments are mandolin, ukulele, upright bass, autoharp, and the Appalachian lap dulcimer. He loves inspiring students to learn their favorite songs while emphasizing technique, theory, and sound fundamentals.
