Scott Gossage began playing guitar at age ten, after his father bought an old guitar at a pawnshop, intending to learn to play it himself. There was also a record of the great Andres Segovia. When he heard this music, Scott thought it was really cool, and started bugging his parents about lessons. Scott had his first guitar lessons at The Peabody Institute, in the preparatory department, mostly because his sisters went there for their ballet lessons on Saturdays. It also turned out that Peabody was one of the country's most important centers for studying the classical guitar, so that was kind of convenient, as it turned out, going forward. Scott has performed extensively as a soloist throughout the United States, in locations ranging from Seattle to New Orleans, Washington D.C, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. He has appeared in venues covering the entire spectrum of prestige and respectability, from the humble and scruffy to the exalted and sublime. Scott has been teaching privately for over 20 years, in Baltimore and in the SF Bay Area. From 2001 through 2009, Scott served on the teaching staff at the Longay Conservatory of Guitar in Santa Clara, California, a school which is known throughout the world as one of the most important centers for teaching the Suzuki method for guitar. In 2008, he completed his apprenticeship working with legendary Suzuki guitar guru Frank Longay. As a result, he is among the most highly trained and experienced Suzuki guitar teachers working in the world today. Scott is known for his infectious enthusiasm, supportive and upbeat demeanor, professionalism, and expert teaching ability. His students have wowed audiences, and won major competitions. Scott is an impeccable player, having studied at Peabody with Ray Chester and in master classes with Manuel Barrueco.  Photo by Stephan Hoerold Grady Sloan Guitarist Grady Sloan has been instructing children and adults of all ages since 1991. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Northridge where he studied with Ronald C. Purcell and a Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he studied with David Tanenbaum. He has been a registered Suzuki Guitar instructor since 1998  |
Rob Watson is a classical guitarist from Oakland, California. He began his guitar studies at age 8, and has a BM in guitar performance from UC Santa Cruz under Mesut Ozgen, and a MM from Yale School of Music with Benjamin Verdery. Rob has performed in masterclasses for David Russell, Roland Dyens, David Tanenbaum, and William Kanengiser, and studied privately with Marc Teicholz. He has performed in Maui, New Haven, Berkeley, and Santa Cruz. Recent performances include the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, performing works of John Dowland with noted tenor Brian Staufenbiel, and in duo with Marc Teicholz at the 50th anniversary of the College Preparatory School in Oakland, CA. Rob has been teaching privately since 2003. From 2006-2009 Rob apprenticed with Frank Longay at the Longay Conservatory of Guitar. He is trained through Book 4 of the Suzuki Method. Rob is known as a player of technical ability, deep tone, and musicality. As a teacher, he is extremely devoted to his students, professional, enthusiastic, and focused. He loves the guitar deeply, and is a lifelong devotee to the art of teaching.  |
