You may now study directly with instructors who have wide experience in teaching finger-style guitar and working specifically with repertoire published by Stropes Editions, Ltd. Private lessons are available to students around the world using Skype, a free, web-based, real-time, video conferencing program. (To download Skype, visit skype.com.) You may schedule lessons on either a regular or irregular basis.
Private lessons with John Stropes
John Stropes is a leading authority on finger-style guitar. Through the historical research, analysis, transcription, teaching and performance of finger-style guitar, he has brought focus to this style as a significant music. His publishing company, Stropes Editions, Ltd., has set a new standard for written music for the guitar and guitar education. His association with many of the leading artists in this style brings depth and vitality to his work.
President of the Milwaukee Classical Guitar Society, 1985-1996. Artistic Director of the American Finger-Style Guitar Festivals, 1985, 1987 and 1989. Performed and taught at the First Chinese Guitar Artistic Festival in the People’s Republic of China in 1986. Chairman of the Guitar Department, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, 1984-1994. Director of Guitar Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts, 2004-present. Author of Michael Hedges/Rhythm, Sonority, Silence; Leo Kottke/Eight Songs; 20th Century Masters of Finger-Style Guitar; John Fahey’s Guitar Christmas Book; and numerous transcriptions of contemporary works for finger-style guitar and related instructional materials.
John’s students have been successful in guitar competitions including the Canadian Guitar Festival Competition; the Walnut Valley Festival International Finger Style Guitar Championship in Winfield, Kansas; and most recently, winning all three places in the 2014 Wilson Center International Finger-Style Guitar Competition.
He continues to work in the interest of the continued renaissance of finger-style guitar, looking back to document its history and bring the most significant repertoire of the past into the canon, and looking forward to transcribe innovative new compositions and to see what technology can do for finger-style guitar.
Videos of students of John Stropes are available at http://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarStudentsAtUWM.
To get started with your private lessons, contact John Stropes at 262-994-8710 or john@stropes.com to discuss repertoire and scheduling. $80 per hour, payable in advance using PayPal. Skype name: johnstropes1132
Private lessons with Benjamin Kammin
B.A. in Music, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1999
M.M. in Guitar Performance, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2010
M.M. in Musicology/Ethnomusicology, Northern Arizona University, 2013
As
a finger-style guitarist, Benjamin Kammin has extensive experience both
as a performer and educator. He has immersed himself in the music of
Leo Kottke, Michael Hedges, Billy McLaughlin, John Fahey, and many other
significant finger-style artists. Working closely with leading
finger-style guitar authority John Stropes, Benjamin’s focus is on
education, transcription, and research on the history and performance of
finger-style guitar. He has been an instructor for the Music of Leo
Kottke workshop at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee since 2008.
Under the mentorship of Stropes he has done extensive research on the
music of Leo Kottke. As part of the requirements for a Master of Music
in Musicology/Ethnomusicology at Northern Arizona University he
completed his thesis in 2013 titled “The Finger-Style Guitar Music of
Leo Kottke: Emerging Methodologies for Research, Transcription, and
Pedagogy.” He has participated in master classes with Billy McLaughlin,
Alex de Grassi, Pino Forastiere, and Pierre Bensusan. Benjamin was the
first student to graduate from the Master of Music in Finger-Style
Guitar Performance program at UW-Milwaukee, where he continues to be
directly involved in primary research in finger-style guitar.
Videos of Benjamin Kammin performing “Breaking of the Shells” by Billy McLaughlin, “November” by Pino Forastiere, and “Ojo” by Leo Kottke are available at http://www.youtube.com/benjaminkammin.
To get started with your private lessons, contact Benjamin Kammin at ben@stropes.com, or visit http://wwww.benkammin.com to discuss repertoire and scheduling. $48 per hour, payable in advance using PayPal. Skype name: benkammin