Gene Bourque
Biographical Info
My family on my dad’s side have all been professional musicians all the way back to great grandfather, who played clarinet in the P.T. Barnum Circus Band in 1888 – 1889. I dove into guitar playing at age 12, inspired by many great musicians to the Newport Folk Festival, which I attended for times in the 1960s. My early background included classical guitar lessons (taken primarily to learn to read guitar music) and later on as a music major at Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, PA. But most of the knowledge I gained in those days was by observing and listening to many greats of blues, folk, traditional country and much more, primarily at the Newport Festival. And of course playing with others whenever and wherever I could. Doc Watson, Clarence White, Jerry Jeff Walker, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and many more at Newport and later in cafe’s, concerts, barrooms, and festivals when I toured and recorded with fiddler Marie Rhines. From them I learned many things: technique, the importance of dynamics, how to interact with others both off and on the stage. When I have a student who expresses interest in all those things I do my best to keep them moving forward, while at the same time being sure to help them understand WHY the artist chose specific chords, finger patterns and strumming technique. All the while encouraging them to embrace not just the techniques but also the pure joy of playing the guitar I teach a wide variety of playing styles depending upon the student’s musical tastes. I also spend a LOT of time with lesson prep on a totally individual basis, which helps me get the student into the style of music they enjoy as soon as possible. All the guitar tracks on Marie Rhines’ album “The Reconciliation” on Fretless/Philo Records. Many background tracks for commercials and film scores. My goal 100% of the time is to help my students conquer the “nuts and bolts” of playing the guitar, all the while remembering the process must be not just improvement in all aspects guitar playing, but also joyful and downright FUN!