Day Two: On the Road With Guitarist Brad Richter

April 9th, 2008 at 01:36pm Aspen Music Festival 355

Aspen Music Festival and School Director of Educational Outreach Debby Barnekow writes about her second day in the Valley schools with guitarist Brad Richter.

At Basalt High School there are 3 guitar classes, part of an every other day schedule like band, choir, math, biology, etc. Principal James Waddick believes this is a necessary avenue of expression for some of his students and indeed it is-a beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. Brad met with all 3 classes today to work on getting some of them ready for performance on Friday's Music and M.O.R.E concert. For nearly all of them of the students, this will be their first time to perform and there were many who are a little uncommitted. Brad's answer is to keep practicing the Led Zepplin song, Kashmir that they are to play.

After school we met with Harris Jackson, a 13-year old guitarist at Glenwood Springs Middle School whom I met during the Stars of Tomorrow competition last week. Harris is self-taught which makes his musical accomplishments all the more amazing-he composes, arranges and plays. He played for Brad who gave him pointers on how to get more efficiency from his hand positions and how to work on speed. At Brad's invitation to play on Friday's concert, Harris was overjoyed. He will be a nice addition to the program.

Entry Filed under: Music, Classical Music, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Blues, Aspen Music Festival