Student Spotlight: Shauna Price

This edition of Student Spotlight is here by deemed the " The Christmas Student Spotlight:Shauna Price." I hope by this point everyone has all their Christmas shopping done and is snuggled up next to the fireplace cuddling with their loved ones with a mug of hot chocolate, waiting for ole Santa to come drop off some presents. While your waiting for Saint Nick check out Miss Shauna Price. Miss Shauna has been playing guitar for 2 years now. She is only 8 years old! She started taking lessons from me at age 6. She is a straight A, honor role student at Lake Forrest Elementary School. Shauna decided she wanted to play guitar, way back when, while visiting her aunt in Vermont. Her aunt was taking guitar lessons and Shauna went with her to one and watched her during a lesson. She wanted to play guitar at that moment. Some of Shauna's favorite bands are Fun, Panic at the Disco, Taylor Swift, Classic Addict and Pink. Even though Shauna is only 8 years old she has been to some concerts. She's seen Panic at the Disco, Fun and Classic Addict. If she could play guitar for any band in history it would be Panic at the Disco. The reason why? Shauna got to meet them. When Shauna was around 4 years old her mom sent a video of her singing Panic songs to Panic at the Disco. When Shauna met them a couple years later the band actually remembered her from the video!!!! She got to take pictures with them and hang out with them. That experience solidified her love of panic at the Disco forever. Shauna's favorite guitar is this blue acoustic she has that has a lot of her favorite bands autographs on it. The guitar has Panic at the Disco, Fun and Classic Addict autographs. I am sure she will have many more bands sign it through her life too! If she could play guitar anywhere in the world it would be France. She would love to play in France so that she could see the Eiffel Tower while there, plus she has always wanted to learn French too. Shauna comes from a pretty musical family. Of course she has the aunt that got her inspired to play, who's name is Betty. She has an uncle who plays, has a great uncle who plays a ton of things and has a studio and of course her GaGa plays the flute. Her mother's side is very musical. Shauna's favorite song to play is "Mine" by Taylor Swift. Shauna still sees herself playing guitar in the next 5 years and hopefully is a student at Davidson fine Arts. Shauna thinks that learning power chords is the thing that has most benefited her in her time in lessons with me so far. When Shauna grows up she wants to be a vet. i for one think she can do it with no problem. When Shauna came back from summer break this year she came back wit the fire. She has made huge improvements in her playing and has really stepped up her game. She has impressed me a ton. She is hungry for musical knowledge and has been practicing her butt off! I have enjoyed watching her get better every week. So here's to you Shauna........Keep Rockin.........Keep Playing.........and keep Having Fun!!!!!

Student Spotlight : Collin Castillo

This edition of "Student Spotlight" is on a very up and coming musician, Collin Castillo. He has been playing guitar for 5 years and has been taking lessons from me since October 2010. Collin got into playing guitar because he saw someone playing and really liked it. His Mom and Dad , at one time, sponsored a band. The band was called " The Fifth." He thought what they did was awesome and wanted to jam. His parents thought it was a phase at first but 5 years later it was no phase! Collin is a 7th grader at River Side Middle School. He plans on going to college for 4 years and hopefully getting to do some music while there. His favorite band of all time is Alice in Chains. He says Alice is one of his dads favorites and that's how he got into listening to them. He doesn't really have a guitar he wants or a "dream" guitar. He plays no favorites with them. He just loves guitars. He has been to a few concerts in his young life too. The best and favorite one he has seen has been Alice In Chains. His mom took him to Atlanta to see them. Seeing that concert is what made him want to be in a band. If Collin could play guitar for any band, new or old, one that is still around or will never be around again, that band would be 90's king's of grunge, Nirvana. He says they are a cool band and he loves all their songs. Collin is currently the guitar player in his church band at Alder's Gate church. They practice every Sunday and Wednesday and play a gig 1 or 2 times a month. Being in this band landed him his first ever real gig. It was about 6 months ago and Alder's Church band kicked some butt! if he could play any gig anywhere in the world Collin would play the Super Bowl.Why? "It is the biggest gig you could ever have and everyone would get to see me play!" Some of Collin's favorite guitar players are Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Perry and Jerry Cantrell. Collin comes from a somewhat musical family. His Aunt Cindy plays everything- piano, guitar, ukulele to name a few. His Great Granny played piano. His uncle by marriage is a heck of a musician, Noel Brown.Noel is an Augusta legend! His mom and dad are huge musical fans and have gave him all the support a young music man could dream of. Why did he start taking lessons? He said "I really like guitar and thought it would be a cool fun thing to do. I really loved it once i started. It's my time to get my escape and have fun." What has been the thing he has got the most use from from lessons? Collin said " You showing me all the chords and their different shapes and learning all the notes on my fretboard." Collin Castillo is a great kid with a huge enthusiasm for music. He is bright and an all around good person. He works hard to be a good player. He continues to impress me week in and week out. He is gonna do great in life when he grows up, as a person and a musician. So here's to you Collin........Keep Rockin'.........Keep Playin'.........and keep Having Fun!!!

Spotlight Licks: Chris Livingston

This Spotlight Lick is brought to you by Rock Bottom Music guitar instructor Chris Livingston. Chris teaches all ages, styles and levels of guitar. He is going to show us how to do some cool pedal steel like bends on the guitar. These things can spice up your solos. They are very popular to be used in riffs too, think Honky Tonk Women by the Rolling Stones. I am not writing out any tab for this because he does a great job showing you in the video. Have some fun with this. I f you or anyone you know is looking for lessons call Chris at 706-589-2112.

Student Spotlight: Taylor Temples

This "Student Spotlight" is another one of the amazing jammers coming from North Augusta Middle School. He is 13 year old 8th grader Taylor Temples. He started playing guitar around 4 years ago, quit for 3 years and started back up. He started his lessons with me 9 months ago. He has been hooked and a daily guitar player ever since! Taylor wanted to play guitar because of his love for rock music and he thought it would be cool to hear a song and go " I can play that!" He doesn't come from too much of a musical family. He has a cousin and an uncle who have dabbled in guitar and a little cousin who has started singing. Taylor's favorite guitar player is Jimi Hendrix. The reason why? He told me " Really????? It's Hendrix. Do you really need a reason why he is awesome? Come On." I laughed my butt off when he said that and could do nothing but agree with him! If he could play guitar in any band in history it would be a tough choice between two bands, Motley Crue or Guns and Roses. I asked Taylor if he could play anywhere in the world, where would it be? He said at the top of the Empire State Building. He would take speaker cabinets and line all the outside walls with them with the speakers pointing out and just sit there on the top of it jammin. Very, Very cool. Taylor would like to possibly go to school for music when he graduates high school. Where does he see himself in 5 years musically? He hopes that the band him and Carter Kight have started is out there playing gigs around the CSRA just getting their names out there and playing their butts off. He hopes to someday be ina band that makes a living playing but at the same time never sold out. His dream guitar is a U.S.A. sunburst Fender Stratocaster. Taylor has 3 big pointers for someone who is just starting out playing. #1- Practice. #2- Practice. And #3- PRACTICE!!!!!!!! What is the thing he feels has been the most important that he has got from lesson so far? Doing finger exercises. He says they have gave him the ability to get down everything that he needs to get down. What song is getting the most play on his IPod right now? All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix. Taylor is a student that has caught the musical bug hard. He plays everyday and really works hard on his playing. he takes it serious and has showed a huge improvement and love for music. I have been very proud of the player he has become and am really looking forward to the player he is gonna turn into. He is to you Taylor Temples........Keep Rockin'........Keep Playing.........and Keep Having fun!!!!!!!!

Student Spotlight: Christina Naomi

This, the last Student Spotlight of 2011 goes to Miss Christina Naomi. She is a 13 year old Merriwether Middle School student. Christina got into guitar not too long ago when her Grandmother got her a guitar for Christmas. She got the guitar and figured "why not give it a try." Even though her Grandma got her the guitar, that doesn't mean she comes from a musical family. Christina says she can't think of anyone in her family who plays. That just makes it that much cooler that she is playing! A Day To Remember is Christina's favorite band. She cites how well the lyrics are written as one of the things that makes them her favorite band. If she could play guitar for any band in history it would be the Beatles just on the basic fact of how legendary they are. You can not argue with that! If she could play anywhere in the world it would be at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. She choose that because when it comes to playing at a venue nothing tops Madison Square Garden. I can agree with that too. Christina'a dream guitar would be either a Taylor or a Gibson acoustic. Where does she see herself musically in 5 years? Still jammin', being a better player than she is today and having a ton of fun! If Christina could create her "dream" concert line up it would include, in no certain order, A Day To Remember, All time Low, Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift. Her favorite guitar player is Alex Gaskarth from All Time Low. After Christina finishes high school she hopes to go to school in New York City for fashion. Anything to do with fashion is her passion. She is kicking butt in school right now and is a STRAIGHT A student!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!! The thing she feels is the most important thing she has learned in lessons? She says learning all the chords in a bunch of different voicings. With that she says she can learn and play just about any song she wants. She doesn't really have anything she is embarrassed by on her Ipod. I can dig that. Christina has a great personality and is smart as a whip. She is kickin butt and takin names! Here is to you Christina.......Keep Rockin.....Keep Jammin.....and Keep Havin Fun!!!

Student Spotlight: Carter Kight

This edition of "Student Spotlight" is on 13 year old, North Augusta middle School student, Carter Kight. Carter has been playing guitar about 2 and 1/2 years and started lessons with me back in the beginning of January 2011. Carter originally wanted to play drums at first, but drums take up a ton of room in a house, so his parents got him a guitar for Christmas instead. Carter is the only one in his family who plays an instrument. His family loves music, they just dont play and are very encouraging to him about his playing. Carter's dream guitar is a vintage K Archtop. He doesn't really have a favorite band or player, he likes to many to choose just one, but if he had to choose one on the spot it would be Son House. If he could be a guitar player for any band in history it would be the White Stripes. Carter loves Jack White's slide work. If he could play any where in the world he would play in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on a ship. It would just be really cool. After he goes to high school he would like to go to college and major in music. Carter is regularly jammin with his buddies, two of which are fellow guitar students of mine, Taylor Temples and Brian Yonn. Musically in 5 years Carter sees himself jamming in a band and writing songs, getting out there and performing so he can reach people that would like his music. What is he most valuable thing Carter has taken from lessons so far? He says learning all the chords in all the voicings has been the most valuable. Gets him able to play all over the neck. Carter loves guitar so much he plays before he goes to school and plays everyday from the time he gets home from school until he goes to bed, taking a break only for homework and chores! The most embarrassing thing on his Ipod? It's a bunch of Hannah Montana and Jonas brothers songs that "accidentally" got put on there fro his sister. Carter has some advice for someone wanting to play or just starting. The advice is don't give up. When you first start it's really hard and can get boring. Play every day and you'll get better, have more fun things to play and you will get good. Just stay with it. Carter has really been working hard lately. He has improved a ton over the past couple months. It is obvious that he has a tremendous love for music and guitar. He has shown me a great work ethic on his guitar. he has learned and completed all work I have gave him. His is going to turn into a hell of a player and is sounding good now. He has a love for great music that lets him have really broad musical tastes. He just doesn't like one style of music, he likes music that is good, be it Avenged Sevenfold or Son House. I look forward to seeing good things from Carter Kight as he grows up. So here is to you Carter......keep rockin'........keep playin'.........and keep having fun!!!!!!!!

Student Spotlight: Grace Dickens

This edition of "Student Spotlight" is on 14 year old West Side High School student Grace Dickens. Grace is a mild mannered shy girl who is really kicking some butt as of late. She comes from a very musical family.Her Grandma plays banjo, her aunt plays guitar, hers sisters play piano, her uncle plays guitar and thats just to name a few! I asked Miss Grace why she chose to play guitar. She told me she just wanted to learn an instrument and the guitar was it. Her favorite bands right now are Black Veil Brides and My Chemical Romance. I would say that Grace is the biggest My Chemical Romance fan I have ever seen. Grace's dream guitar is a vintage Fender Stratocaster. She just happened to get her dream guitar too! Her aunt (who must be amazingly awesome) gave her a 1973 Fender Strat! If Grace could play a gig anywhere in the world it would be anywhere in California. Why? Because California is just awesome! Right now Grace enjoys learning new songs and jammin with her best friend and jam buddy Sydney. They jam on My Chemical Romance songs together. If she could play in any band in history it would be .....you guessed it.....My Chemical Romance!!!! My Chemical Romance is also the home of her favorite guitar player, Ray Toro. She loves the way he plays and says "He is just a beast!" In 5 years she hopes to be playing in bands, jammin around and playing a gig or two. In the long term she hopes to be a professional musician. She plays guitar everyday, around 1 to 2 hours everyday. The thing Grace said she has most got out of lessons is how to play the guitar in general. The advice Miss Gracie has for any new players or new students..."Practice everyday, try hard and have fun. And have fun because it is fun." The most embarrassing thing on her Ipod? It's the First Piano Adventures Cd! Grace Dickens is a smart girl with a ton of raw talent. She works hard and is on her way to being a good player. She is makin me proud. Here is to you Grace.....Keep Rockin......Keep Playin'.......and Keep Having Fun!!!!!

Student Spotlight :Zeb Shepard

Student Spotlight: Zeb Shepard

Zeb Shepard is a 15 year old student of mine who has been playing about a year of guitar. He is starting Aiken Christian School next year. He plans on going to college for aeronautical engineering. Zeb comes from a very musical family. His dad is a bass player, all his uncle’s on his dad’s side, all his cousins (one cousin even majored in guitar at UGA) and basically everyone he can think of plays! I asked Zeb what got him into playing and he said that there was just a guitar lying around and he decided to pick it up and go for it. His favorite players are Slash and Eddie Van Halen. He cites some of his favorite bands as Guns and Roses, Led Zeppelin and the Eagles. His dream guitar is a Gibson Les Paul. He just had the pleasure of getting his dream guitar not that long ago from Rock Bottom Music, a Les Paul Special!!! The amp that Zeb desires more than any is a Marshall stack! He will be killing some neighbor’s ear drums then! I asked Zeb if he could play anywhere in the world where would it be. He said “The White House. Just to get to play there and play for the president, who could say they ever did that! Not too many!” There is also a song that one day, with enough hard work, he is striving to play…..That is “Eruption” by Van Halen. He says “One day I will get there.” That’s what I love to hear a student say. Where does Zeb see himself musically in five years? “Hopefully being able to play Shenandoah!” he says with a laugh “and maybe playing in a band and doing some gigs” he says on a serious note. Zeb sites learning where all his notes on his guitar are and learning how everything connects together as the most important things he has learned from lessons so far. He is currently listening to a lot of good ole classic rock and says there aren’t too many bands that are currently out that he likes. The most embarrassing thing on his Ipod? “Shake it” by Metro Station!!! Hahahahahaha!!! Zeb is a great kid, smart and a hard worker. His is carrying on his family’s tradition of music in a good way. He is oozing with raw talent. He is going to be a monster of a guitar player. I am proud to have had a hand in molding him. Here is to you Zeb….Keep Rockin’…..Keep Playing……and Keep Having Fun!!!

here is video of zeb playing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn50A2tFZCY

Student Spotlight: Brian Yonn Jr.

This edition of "Student Spotlight" is on a 13 year old guitar student of mine named Brian Yonn Jr. Brian is in 7th grade over at North Augusta Middle school.He has wanted to play guitar since he was old enough to know what a guitar was. Some of his favorite bands are System of a Down,Van Halen, Pantera (yeah!!) and MetallicA. His dream guitar is a Charvel SoCal......and he owns it!!!!!! He got it from years of saving up for a guitar. We had one down at Rock Bottom and he got it!!! I asked Brian where he see's himself musically in the next five years. He said that he sees himself being in a band and getting closer to being a professional musician. When he gets his band he would love to be the opening band and be on tour with System of a Down. Why System of a Down? They have an awesome show and they rock!! Brian has been the lead guitar player for Day Spring Church since February of 2011. You can catch him every Sunday there between 11 and 12. The church is located next to Augusta Harley Davidson off of I 520 and everyone is welcome to come check it out. Brian has a dream amp too. That amp is the balls to the wall Marshall Stack! If Brian could be a fill in guitar player for any band in the world it would be Metallica. That would be one of my top choices too Brian!! Brian comes from a very musical family. On both sides he has cousins, uncles and plenty of others that plays bass, piano, guitar and a number of other instruments. The thing Brian has gotten the most out of lessons with me?Learning where all his notes are and learning all the different chord voicings( how to make a chord in many different ways). The chord voicing has helped him in playing lead guitar for his church. Some advice Brian has for someone just starting some lessons with me? Practice a lot and relax be normal and not nervous. The most embarrassing thing on his Ipod? Britney Spears and Hannah Montana!!!!! Brian Yonn Jr. has been taking lessons from me since October of 2010. He has since elevated his self to one of my top students. I have watched him grow at a very rapid pace. He is well on his way to becoming a professional musician. I am a very lucky teacher to have got a student with such raw talent to have a hand in molding him and helping him grow as a musician. Brian is a hardworking , smart and all around good kid. He hopes to go to a college that has a good science department......as long as it's not Clemson!!!! LOL!!! Here is to you Brian....Keep Rockin......Keep Playin'.....and Keep Having Fun!!!

Here is some video of Brian playing with his church http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UOLFQQErC4

Student Spotlight: Oscar Ystenes

This edition of "Student Spotlight" features 22 year old guitar student Oscar Ystenes.Oscar has been a student of mine since February 19th, 2010. I got to start Oscar right from the start. He is a psychology major at Augusta State and will graduate in 2012. Oscar got into playing because his father played and urged him to play when he was younger. He did not start playing until he was older and developed his own liking of music and wanted to start playing and writing his own songs. Along with having a dad that played, he has a brother that plays drums and has a girlfriend ( Candice Litsey, another of my students) that plays bass, ukulele and sings. He sites his favorite bands as Breaking Benjamin, Five Finger Death Punch and Three Days Grace. He would love to play in Japan or Australia because of his love of both of those cultures. Oscar's dream guitar would be a Gibson Les Paul or a Fender Strat. Right now he has a Yamaha acoustic guitar and a Schector Omen Extreme electric guitar. His first concert was Sick Puppies, Janus and Shotgun Opera right here in Augusta Georgia. If he could ever be a fill in guitarist for any band it would be one of his faves, Breaking Benjamin. In the future when he is out playing gigs his dream bands to be on tour with would be Five Finger Death Punch and Breaking Benjamin. Where does Oscar see himself musically in five years? He sees himself in a band playing gigs locally and having a blast doing it! Oscar sites being persistent and motivated to continue practicing everything he needs to play as one of the things he has got the most out of lessons with me. Some advice for someone thinking of playing from Oscar is "Practice daily. You won't master your instrument and get good unless you put the time in." The most embarrassing thing on his Ipod? The Pokemon Theme Song by the boy band N' Sync!!!! When Oscar finishes school he wants to get into being a crime scene forensics worker and work on criminal and crime profiling. He is a very smart and persistent person. I can very easily see him being able to do that. Working with him has been great. He puts in the time and effort it takes to be a player. It is paying off for him now and will continue to pay off for him in the future. Every week he comes in prepared and having shown progress from the week before. He is a model student. I enjoy seeing him get a song down. He is going to develop into a hell of a player. So here's to you Oscar.....Keep Rockin'........Keep Playin'........and Keep Having Fun!!!!!!

John Berret

Student Spotlight: Shane Waldun

This "Student Spotlight" is on 18 year old, Hephzibah High senior, Shane Waldun. Shane has been taking lessons from me since October of 2009. He got his first guitar at three years old from his Grandfather, who also played guitar and released his own music. He has an Uncle who plays too. Shane really got serious on playing around 2-3 years ago. He also plays the piano, took 1 yr of lessons and the trombone, 3 years of instruction. I asked Shane why he even decided to pick up the guitar. He told me "The bands i loved sounded so cool, I thought it would be worth the adventure to learn!" That is a very cool reason. His guitar heroes are Kirk Hammet and Zakk Wylde. His favorite bands are Metallica and Breaking Benjamin. If he could be a fill in guitar player for any band it would be metal legends Metallica. Shane's dream guitar would be a silverburst Gibson Les Paul and his dream amp is one of the new revolutionary Fender Mustang amps. Shane is a member of the J.R.O.T.C.. He is going to attend North Georgia for college and hopes to major in music or computer programming. The thing Shane has gotten the most of from lessons is playing by ear sometimes just isn't enough and to practice as often as you can because practice really can make perfect. The most embarrassing song on his ipod? Sexting by Blood on the Dance Floor. Shane has been really working hard and I have enjoyed watching him progress as a student of mine. He has great things in store for him as he gets older. He has great taste in music and loves music from any style. Some advice Shane has for anyone new to the guitar is "If you are not really into it it's going to be hard to learn. It takes a lot of desire to get yourself to were your going to be able to play, alot of practice....and if you do go for it, shoot high." So here's to you Shane....Keep Rockin......Keep Playin.....and Keep having fun!!!!!!!!!!!

Student Spotlight: Chris Marks

This edition of "Student Spotlight" is on 12 year old, 7th grader, Chris Marks. Chris attends school at Davidson Fine Arts Academy. Chris plays drums, guitar, bass and piano. He is well seasoned for a musician of all of 12 years old. He has been playing cello for many years. He got into music at around the ripe old age of 7 years. He wanted to play guitar at that age but to prove his interest in playing guitar his mom made him start on piano first. He did the piano for a couple years and his mom and dad got him a guitar along the way. He started teaching himself from various websites and youtube. A couple of years later he started getting his first guitar lessons. While he was taking guitar lessons, and cello at school, he also started taking drum lessons. From what i hear he can play drums good too. He says he has a "somewhat" musical family. He has a brother who is a very promising drummer ( who takes lessons at Rock Bottom) and a Grandfather who also played the cello. While his parents are not musicians themselves, they provide all the support and encouragement a kid could want in a parent. They also have a great taste in music, LOL! Chris's dream guitar would be a Gibson Les Paul Custom. If he could play anywhere it would be the world famous Staples Center, located in Los Angeles California. If he was in a band and could be the opening act for any band in history it would be Guns & Roses. He cites Guns and Roses and Led Zeppelin as his favorite bands. His favorite guitar player is Led Zeps Jimmy Page because he likes his style. If he could be one guitarist for aday it would be Eddie Van Halen. Who wouldn't want to play those songs with Van Halen????? Where does Chris see himself musically in the next five years? He sees himself preparing to go to a good music school to study the cello. He site his improvement in technique as one of the biggest and best things he has taken from my lessons so far. The silliest thing on his Ipod? Techno music, he says his brother loaded it on there. Chris Marks has the ability the become a professional musician and play at the national level in the coming years. I am very pleased with his work ethic. If he chooses that path he very well could become huge. He can play things you don't expect from a 12 year old. If he practices and puts the dedication of a champion in, he will become one. He, as well as all my students who choose this path, will get everything I can do to help them achieve that. Keep your eyes and ears ready to hear Chris as he evolves as a musician. Here is to you Chris......Keep Rockin.....Keep Playing......and Keep Having Fun!!!!

Student Spotlight: Jeramie McCloud

This months student spotlight is on a 25 year old self professed "army brat" Jeramie McCloud. Jeramie has been playing guitar seriously for 11 years now. He has been taking lessons from me since February 2010. He is an accomplished metal player. He is part of a band from Texas called "Shadow Kill Clan." The band has released a full length cd and it is brutally terrific! I will send you links at the end to check it out. Some of his influences are Slayer, Korn, Slipknot, Pink Floyd, Micheal Jackson and Sade. Being a military brat he has lived all over the country. His dream guitar would be a custom 7 string Gibson Les Paul with Seymour Duncan Blackout pick ups. I asked Jeramie with all the places you have played what places would you like to play? He told me he would love to play in Antarctica because its a cold desolate place, Japan because that's a stop for every one that's a metal great or even space!!!! If he could play guitar for anyone that's ever been around in history it would be Micheal Jackson. He is a self professed Micheal Jackson freak! If he could tour the world with any band it would be Prodigy. Jeramie got into playing guitar because his grand dad played. He wanted to play metal because there are not too many black people represented in metal. Another thing that got him into playing was seeing Hall and Oats on a TV Christmas special playing Jingle Bells and the white stratocaster being played mesmerized him. The Van Halen video "Hot For Teacher" was also a turning point. Seeing the close up of guitar god Eddie Van Halen got him the guitar bug. Why did Jeramie want to come get lessons? He wanted to unlearn bad habits and be more than just a "metal" guy. He just wanted to get better and be able to convey more emotion in his music.The things Jeramie have gotten the most out of lessons? He has had alot of his questions answered and it is just plain exciting to come. The most embarrassing thing on his ipod? Britney Spears and other bubble gum pop!! Jeramie is an accomplished metal player with the desire to expand his musical horizons. I am pleased to be his teacher. Shadow Kill Clan is a great band. I enjoy it .If you like metal you will too. He is an easy going guy with awesome musical aspirations and hopes to be part of our countries armed forces. So here is to you Jeramie....Keep Rockin.....Keep Playing.......and Keep Having Fun!!!!!!!

to check out Shadow Kill Clan go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdC6isMCKuA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R749RMwdzQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58qUXwvmqv4

http://www.youtube.com/shadowkillclan.com


http://www.myspace.com/shadowkillclan

Student Spotlight: Blake Sloan

This "Student Spotlight" is on an up and comer named Blake Sloan. He is 13 years old and is in 8th grade at North Augusta Middle School. He has been playing guitar for around 5-6 years now. He has been taking lessons from me since April 2010. He started playing guitar because he has a brother who got him into it. His brother is a former student of mine named Aaron Sloan who was in a local band called the J man Band. There are several musicians in his family from his brother Aaron to cousins. Blake also plays saxophone and piano. I have had the pleasure of watching Blake really improve in the last two months. He practices regularly and it shows in his playing. I have witnessed his fingers and hands getting faster and stronger and his timbre improve greatly. His favorite band out there is Weezer. His dream concert bill to be a part of would be Metallica opening the show, Weezer in the middle and his band closing it out. He would love for his band to be a nice mix of Metallica and Weezer. If he could get a guitar lesson from any guitar player in history it would be Eddie Van Halen. Why Eddie Van Halen? "Eruption......that's enough said....if someone can create a song like Eruption I would love to know how his mind works" is what Blake's response was. If there was one place in the world he could play a gig at it would be Times Square in New York City. Blake said playing there and being around all those people would be a thrill. Blake's dream guitar would be a Gibson Les Paul Gold Top. I asked Blake where he sees his self musically in 5 years and he told me " Playing in a band regionally around the south east." The most embarrassing song on his ipod is Fur Elise. That's not really that embarrassing, I love that song!!! When Blake gets out of high school he wants to attend the University of South Carolina. He hopes to grow up to be a neurologist. He certainly has the brains and work ethic to be one. I have witnessed how smart he is first hand. He is a bright kid. Blake told me the most important thing he has gotten from lessons so far is a life lesson that if you learn to read music it takes you a long way with other instruments too and that as far as guitar goes finger exercises get you precision and quickness. So here is to you Blake........keep rockin...keep playing.....and keep having fun!!!!

Student Spotlight: Danielle Parker

This month's Student Spotlight is on Danielle Parker. She is 14 years old and attends Grovetown High School. She started taking guitar lessons from me February 20, 2010. She is a very quiet, shy young lady. She is extremely smart and is well mannered. She does very well in school and caught on to my teaching program quickly. She works very hard at the guitar. She wanted to start playing guitar because her mom likes guitar. It's very obvious that Danielle likes it as well. Her current favorite band is Paramore and she would love to see Taylor Swift in concert. If she could play in any band that's around today it would be Maroon 5. She hopes to be writing her own songs in the future. I believe she is well on her way to doing that. She has what it takes to be on her way to writing some great songs. She listens to and plays a wide range of music, from Poison to Taylor Swift to Paramore. She really enjoys music. That's what drives her to keep playing. If she could go back to any point in time and see any performer in history it would be Micheal Jackson. She says there are not too many musical people in her family except her brother who plays piano. That is nothing to deter her though, she is from the musical mecca city of New Orleans Louisiana. Growing up seeing the parades and bands there had a profound impact on her. There isn't a person alive who grew up in New Orleans and doesn't have some sort of music running through their veins. Seeing the drummers in New Orleans is what got her into music. In 5 years she sees herself a much better musician. She wants to be an optometrist and go to the University of Southern California for college. She is having a blast learning music at Rock Bottom Music. So here's to you Danielle.......keep rockin.......keep playing........and keep having fun!!!

Student Spotlight: Alex Cooke

It is a new month, so now we have a new "Student Spotlight." This months spotlight is on a very multi-talented person. His name is Alex Cooke. Alex is 16 years old and is a student at Davidson Fine Arts Academy. He started lessons with me on June 4, 2009. What made Alex want to play music? He wanted to be able to write his own songs and perform them. I would call Alex one of my most ambitious and talented students. He has high hopes of doing musical theatre while in college. He has some family that is musical, some of his aunts and cousins play drums, guitar, sing and do musical theatre. He is also a very talented visual artist. You may have seen some of his art work posted here on my blog. He did a slammin picture of a young Paul McCartney and also designed the flier for Big City Music's summer rock band camp. He did the best drawing of me I have ever seen on that flier( he did a bang of job of drawing Adam Tolar too). If he could open for any band, anywhere, at anytime in history, he would open up for the Beatles when they played the Ed Sullivan show for the first time. The Beatles are also his favorite band of all time. A close second is the band All Time Low, who would be his choice to open for of all the bands that are currently around. Along with guitar and visual arts, Alex plays the bass, sings, plays the saxophone and a little piano. Music and arts are entertainment and hobby now but he hopes to maybe parlay it into a career. He hopes to be in a band soon. Alex has been a standout in the Big City Music concerts and did an amazing job at the Rock Band Camp's show on July 4th for River Blast. He says the River Blast gig was his best gig that he has played so far. The guitar of Alex's dreams??? None other than a Gibson SG. The SG is a favorite of mine as well as guitar legends like Angus Young, Tony Iommi and countless others. A new question I am asking the student in student spotlight is " What is the most embarrassing song on your ipod ?" What is most embarrassing to Alex ? He has the Demi LaVato song catch me on his ipod. Alex is someone I see excelling at anything he does in life. He has great work ethic, is very intelligent and is a great person. His personality will win him fans. He writes alot of great songs. I love performing his songs with him. Hopefully he will record some soon and release them. Expect to see Alex out playing soon, either with a band or solo. So here's to you Alex......keep rockin......keep playing.......and keep having fun!!!!!!

Student Spotlight: Karissa Romer

Welcome to the latest edition of "Student Spotlight." This spotlight is focused on my guitar and vocal student Karissa Romer. She is 13 years old and attends Saint Mary's Catholic School. She has been taking lessons off me since October 11, 2008. When I asked her what m,ade her want to play guitar it was because of Avril Lavigne. Why Avril? Because Avril lavigne's individuality inspired her. Ms. Romer got off to slow start in lessons, as almost everyone does, because once a student gets in to my room they realize how much work it's gonna take to get going. I did not know at first, if she was gonna stick it out. She did! After a few months she started to dig down deep inside herself and started practicing more. She became dedicated and that led her to being able to start playing some songs she liked. After about a year of guitar lessons she also started to take some vocal lessons as well. She has been the front woman for the Big City Music Student Band for a while now. She does extremely well at it too. She is also going to be doing our Rock Band Camp this summer too. All Time Low is currently her favorite band. Her dream concert to attend would be, you guessed it, Avril Lavigne. If she could be in any national band it would be Fall Out Boy. Her first concert she ever went to was Lynyrd Skynyrd when she was 4 years old. Karissa says she comes from a somewhat musical family,her cousins play drums and guitar,and she grew up with cool parents that always had great music playing where ever they were. Karissa aspires to one day be in a band, singing and playing guitar. Karissa has played shows at the Live On The Lawn and at the Columbia County Amphitheatre. Her next show you can catch her at will be for the Rock Band Camp's show for NBC 26's River Blast on July 4th at the 8th street stage in downtown Augusta Georgia. So here's to you Karissa......Keep Rockin....Keep Playing....and Keep Having Fun!!!!!

"Student Spotlight"

Hello everyone! We are back with another installment of "Student Spotlight." This months student is Donald Davis. He is a 24 year old guitar player from right here in Augusta Georgia. Donald is a very determined person. We have worked hard to get him playing. H e is the only musical person in his family and he does not have a back round in music. That has not deterred him. He has worked harder than the average student to get his fingers moving. He has EXTREMELY long fingers that are double jointed near the tip. The double jointedness has made him have to work his fingers more than average to get him strong. The extra long fingers and double jointedness will prove a great asset to his guitar playing in the future. Donald wanted to play guitar because its just a cool instrument that he wanted to play for a long time. He got his guitar 2 Christmas's ago and started lessons with me on March 14, 2009. Some of his favorite bands are Gazette and Papa Roach. If he were ever to be in a touring band he would love to tour the United States more than any other place in the world. His favorite guitar player is Jimi Hendrix. James Brown is his musical hero. He loves James Brown's music. On one of his birthdays he got a ticket to James Browns birthday show and was floored by the skill of the band and Mr. Browns stage presence. He hopes to be in a band in the next couple years, showing off his skills and having fun. So here's to you Donald...keep rockin....keep playing...and keep having fun!!

Student Spotlight

This is the first run of "Student Spotlight." It is for a student from big city music that has been doing great. There are actually too many students to choose from, so i picked 10 and chose at random from there.
Let me tell you about this student. His name is Emmanuel Bing.He is a guitar student of mine. He is 13 yrs old and has been playing guitar for around a year and a half. I got him as a student right when he got his guitar. Emmanuel is an extremely smart kid. I would expect him to end up a doctor or congressman when he hets older. He is sharp and quick. He has picked up the guitar really quick. He can learn songs on his own by ear. He is already writing his own songs. Emmanuel tells me Cage The Elephant is currently his favorite band. His dream guitar is a Gibson Les Paul and his dream gig would be to open for Green Day. Emmanuel plays in his church band, Phillip Grove Church in Waynesboro Ga. He plays his guitar everyday and it shows. He recently smoked that guitar up at our student concert at Columbia County Amphitheatre. I asked him why he wanted to play guitar in the first place and he told me ," I just started to like rock music alot more." So if you are out and about, go check him out at his church or catch him at a student concert.If you are a teenage band looking for a guitar player, Emmanuel is your man. So here's to you Emmanuel....keep rockin....keep playing.....and keep having fun.