Gabe W. TakeLessons Instructor Music, Guitar, Music Theory Los Angeles, CA

Originally from Maryland, in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, guitarist and composer Gabriel began his musical explorations on the piano as a child, before teaching himself guitar as a teenager. While attending Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA Gabe began formal lessons in jazz guitar with Tom Kozic (a student of Joe Pass, Howard Roberts, Tal Farlow, and Kenny Burrell) and Dr. Theodore Conner, as well as classical music theory and composition with Douglas Ovens. During his education, Gabe was a member of several jazz improvisational groups, a big band orchestra, and he also played in the pit orchestra for musical productions. After graduating cum laude with a degree in Music, Gabe made his way to Chicago to work on a Masters in Jazz Studies at DePaul University, studying with Bob Palmieri (a student of John Scofield) Dr. Robert Lark, and Peter Ballin. While at DePaul Gabe continued to play and record in several jazz combos and big bands, while also finding the time to jam at some of the great blues bars in the city.

Leaving Chicago behind in 2003, Gabe traveled to Los Angeles to pursue his Doctorate in Musicology at the University of Southern California, where he now studies Indian classical music, Jazz History, and 20th century Western art music. As part of his coursework, Gabe continued his guitar studies with David Becker and Tim Kobza, while also sitting in on master classes with Joe Diorio, Sid Jacobs, Pat Martino, Steve Trovato, and Pat Metheny. For his Ethnomusicology studies, Gabe learned to play the tabla, a set of hand drums from India. He learned even more about Indian culture and music while he was abroad in India for 6 months in the fall/winter of 2006/2007, researching for his dissertation. Gabe's fascination with Indian music has influenced not only his compositional writing and improvisational style, but also his teaching approach. Aside from his academic studies, Gabe has performed throughout Southern California with several local bands and artists, including his own project, the progressive rock inspired jam band, Quactus.

Some of Gabe's favorite guitar players/influences include: Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Steve Morse, Eric Clapton, Scott Henderson, Jimmy Herring, Trey Anastasio, Carlos Santana, Jerry Garcia, Al Di Meola, Pat Martino, Joe Pass, Grant Green, Mike Stern, John Scofield, Marty Friedman, Yngwie Malmsteem, Rusty Cooley, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and B.B. King.

As for non guitarists, Gabe enjoys the music of: John Coltrane, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Oscar Peterson, Michael Brecker, Chick Corea, Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Zakir Hussain.

Gabe has been teaching privately for over 12 years to students of all ages and is well versed in most styles: jazz, blues, rock, funk, punk, metal, acoustic, shred, classical, etc. During his lessons, Gabe covers topics ranging from learning how to play starting from the basics, improving your technical chops, your ear, sight-reading, theoretical knowledge, and improvisation, as well as guitar maintenance, amplifiers, and effects. Gabe feels it's important to get out of the lessons what you want. So he doesn’t have a set curriculum, and tailors each lesson to the student. He is also a very patient teacher and presents material in an easily digestible manner.

Jazz, Blues, Funk, Folk, Rock, Punk, Metal, Acoustic, Classical, Jam Band, Improvisation, Shred, history, ear training, sight reading, transcribing

Music, Guitar, Music Theory