Introduction: Among the many grants and awards I've received for my composing, I was named The Number One Guitar/Theory Lessons Teacher in Thumbtack's Best of 2015, as well as a "Top Pro" in 2016-18. Below are some reviews about my playing/composing/songwriting/teaching:
1. Thurston Moore in Mojo Magazine "Mind blowing."
2. NYTimes "Astonishing."
3. Time Out NY "The next big thing in guitar gods."
4. The Big Takeover "Powerhouse guitarist."
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I'm a composer, performer and teacher, written up in Pitchfork, The Village Voice, Guitar Player, and NYTimes, who makes it fun for beginners and fully develops the advanced. I teach all styles and desires, from songwriters who are interested in developing their creativity/improv skills, to those who'd love to play their favorite songs. I teach electric and bass guitar, midi and computer recording, fingerpicking, songwriting, noise, improvisation, rocking out, psychedelic sonic landscapes, blues, funky stuff, alternative tuning, various jazz-avant theories, guilty pop pleasures and ???
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The following are a few reviews I received from my clients as a teacher prior to Thumbtack:
1. Bernard Gann/Liturgy (Thrill Jockey) "David's teachings expand across every spectrum of the instrument and encourage much thought beyond as well. The sound itself becomes the focal point, and the guitar is a vastly differentiated palette with which to achieve any end that you can imagine. Guitar technique is only a part of a larger whole, a brilliantly open-world philosophy where sound is king."
2. Theresa Smith/Home Blitz (Mexican Summer) "I've been playing basic rock 'n' roll guitar for 15 years and never taken guitar lessons before. David has really helped me begin to grasp the underlying structure of the instrument in a way that makes sense to me and that I can use to build on basic song structures in an improvisational setting. Plus, he's a great guy and killer guitar player. I can't recommend him highly enough!"
3. Eric R. "David has the depth and understanding to convey music with both soul and science. A lesson with him is like having your own personal composer, lyricist and guitar wizard. I can't believe my luck of finding him."
4. Michael W. "David's ability to psychically figure out exactly what I need and how to get it to me is the primary reason why I am able to continue on this difficult and important mission of finding myself, the musician. If I hadn't found him, I definitely would have quit by now. Equal parts guitar teacher, mentor, therapist, comedian and role model, David packs quite the bang for the buck. I didn't think creativity could be taught, but no! David has proved me wrong."
5. David G. "David's a versatile teacher. I am learning everything, from basic guitar to post rock, computer music and harmonics. He is patient but also challenging. I feel incredibly lucky to be studying under his tutelage."
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Below are some of the reviews I received as a songwriter/composer:
1. Paris Transatlantic "Simply a master chef when it comes to cooking up harmonics."
2. Splendid E-zine "It's enough to give you goosebumps."
3. NY Times "Kinetic dance rhythms with thoughtful lyrics."
4. All Music Guide "As a singer, he underplays in the manner of Andy Partridge, with a similar jazzy bounce, and his lyrics are comparable as well in their intelligence and elusive imagery."
5. Time Out New York "He is a guitarist with a flair for melody and a neat way of intertwining themes and stories as proved by his new CD."
