I think of myself as someone who never stops learning, but when I sat down to write this blog post about a lesson I recently took with the great Scott Henderson, I realized I could count on one hand the number of formal lessons I've taken in the past 10 years. Lately I’ve been teaching more than ever, but I hadn’t found myself on the other side of a guitar lesson in a while.
The wonderful thing about teaching, like music, is that everyone has their own approach and concept of how they do it. I’ve learned over the years that patience is one of the most valuable tools you can possess in your educational arsenal. When you teach, you’re not just selling your musical knowledge and expertise, you’re selling yourself and your personality, and providing a relaxed and open setting will result in a more effective learning environment. It’s not just the muscle memory and the physical movement in the music, it’s also the openness and willingness to embrace and convey your truest creative self. Sometimes, it’s about helping someone find their true musical path and calling.
Going all the way back to my musical youth, finding the right teacher was vital. After a foundation of piano lessons, I started beginner guitar lessons around age 11 and got my first guitar at 12. I learned a lot by ear, playing along to records by Queen, Boston, and of course Van Halen.
With time I learned that a great teacher could take my playing to the next level, starting with Glenn Alexander (of Southside Johnny), who was coincidentally my neighbor two doors down in New Jersey. One day when I was 15, while walking our family dog, I saw a long-haired guy unloading gear in his driveway. I introduced myself and asked if he played guitar. It turned out Glenn played guitar, and played like a madman. He invited me in and blew my mind with crazy fusion licks and his laid-back Midwest vibe. He became a trusted teacher and mentor.
Glenn Alexander at The Stone Pony
I’m fortunate to have studied with other high-level guitar instructors, including Paul Crook (of Meat Loaf/Anthrax), Aaron Leone (incredible NJ player/teacher), Dr. Rich Jacobowski (classical guitar virtuoso/college instructor), who each helped me develop my technique and find my voice.
I started teaching lessons myself at age 16, when a high school classmate asked if I gave lessons. (That means I have close to 30 years of teaching experience, which is crazy.)
I later taught private and in-store guitar lessons at my local Jersey music shop (Scotch Plains Music, thanks Greg). I got my Music Ed degree as part of my classical training at William Paterson College, and then spent a few years as a middle school music teacher, teaching general music and leading multiple choirs.
When I started working on Broadway seriously, I only had time for a handful of regular students. Now with Broadway on pause, I’m teaching more than ever, and online for the first time. I always enjoyed teaching, especially with students who were eager to learn. A silver lining of this crazy time has been reconnecting with my teaching roots.
However, as a player, I found myself feeling uninspired during quarantine since I wasn’t able to play with other musicians. For months I almost exclusively played my classical guitar so I could expand my solo rep for online concerts, and I found myself barely touching my electric. I started to miss it. Months of quarantine drove me to seek inspiration and new ideas to keep me from playing the same classical passages over and over on my couch (if only for my wife’s sake).
me on my couch
I decided I wanted to take a lesson with someone who could show me some new things. Someone like Scott Henderson, who by chance and good karma, I met in February back when my show was up and running, via my aforementioned teacher Glenn Alexander.
It all happened when I got a text from Glenn that Scott Henderson was in town for a residency at the Iridium, and on his night off, he had tickets to see Book of Mormon. Glenn wanted to see if the two of us could connect after. I immediately texted back ‘Of course!’ Scott’s a huge influence, and it got me excited and nervous knowing he’d hear me play the show.
Additionally, Glenn was hosting a Scott Henderson clinic for his students at Sarah Lawrence College, where he is a professor, and invited me to attend. I arrived early at the Bronxville campus and headed downstairs to the music room to discover Mr. Henderson in the midst of warming up and improvising over various backing tracks he created. He played beautiful and tasteful lines that were interesting, soulful, and made the most of every note. Glenn introduced me to Scott, and right off the bat, he was interested in my work as a theater guitarist, which was a nice surprise, because from my perspective, he was way more interesting!
Soon after, the students gathered into the studio and the clinic began. Beyond his devastating playing and improv prowess, Scott was incredibly straightforward and honest in explaining his approach to music and was frank about what it takes to achieve success in the business. I was floored by everything he shared with the young musicians as well as the other teachers/fans in attendance.
Scott Henderson
Having the opportunity to hang with Scott at the clinic was a great way to break the ice. The following night he came to see Mormon and we hung out backstage after the show, along with our violinist Entcho, also a Henderson/Tribal Tech fan. It was a treat to give Scott a tour of the pit and give him a glimpse into the Broadway orchestra world. It turned out that Scott’s a huge fan of the show and of South Park, so he was psyched to see the show again (he’s seen BOM 3 times!). Later that week, Entcho and I subbed out to see Scott play with his trio at the Iridium, and he completely tore the roof off the place! He’s a truly remarkable player, for those who don’t already know.
me, Scott Henderson, and Chris Buono at Iridium
Keep in mind this was early 2020, pre-Covid, so things changed soon after that. Fast forward to late-summertime, months into the theatre closure. I had not played the show or with my band or any ensemble in a long time, and without other musicians to react to, I felt less-than-inspired and my electric playing and creative flow felt stunted. I needed something to remind me of my love for the instrument.
I reached out to Scott for a lesson. He gladly agreed, though he said he didn’t think there was much that he could show me, to which I replied, “I think you’d be surprised.”
Having the time away from performing actually gave me the confidence to call Scott for a lesson, whereas earlier, I was too intimidated to play for him. And I’m so glad I did because Scott couldn’t have been more gracious and helpful, showing me some wonderful altered scale ideas that he’s a master of, as well as songwriting advice and tips on being a more confident player and soloist. (Thanks, Scott!)
My advice to musicians -- and to myself -- is to never stop learning, even when (or especially when) you’ve reached a musical/career goal. In fact, take it a step further and tackle something out of your comfort zone or something that’s eluded you in the past. Taking on something new and out of the ordinary is one of the best ways to grow musically. And don’t be afraid to reach out to someone you think could help along your journey.
Until next time,
-j