I graduated from conservatory studying Jazz music in ’99.
Have been a sideman supporting national artists for a periode of time but decided to quit that around 2005 because I no longer saw art in what I was doing.
After a long sebatical from the instrument the last 5 years im playing again, only music I really love: Stuff touching borders of pop, blues and jazz….into straight ahead jazz.
Although im lucky to play with great musicians supporting international acts….I only do the local fun stuff with those guys….so I can’t consider myself a pro judging by where I make a living, maybe I can, judging by people surrounding me.
Id consider myself a lifetime student of music…so I dont have all THE answers, probably ill have “An” answer.
Im no english native speaker, but close enough for jazz and teaching.
My teaching focusses on the ability to freely improvise and play over changes. As a result, “musicianship” in general, knowledge of the fretboard and practical musictheory are prominent in my teaching. Also i see a lot of value in talking about increasing the value of your practice time available.
Although technique is sometimes touched upon, im really not the guy for you if you want to be the next Yngwie Malmsteen. If you want to evolve into a more musical way of improvising, enhancing your “Groove” and “Vocabulary” into your musical intuition..maybe I am!
My own musical journey and teaching have evolved to a concept i call “methods over changes”. This tackles the phenomena where you have maybe found great recources on how to play jazz (sounds), but have a hard time making practical/musical use of it.
Best fit is probably when you are proficient in playing pop music, maybe you are a gigging “weekend warrior”, looking to get into jazz, or sounds of jazz.