Scott Cmiel
Biographical Info
teachers: Michael Lorimer and Aaron Shearer Bach, Barrios, Brouwer – the three B’s My goal as a teacher is to nourish each student’s love of music and desire for learning by providing an engaging, step by step path to develop musical ability. I strive to honor the great beauty and communicative power of music that attracts people to the study of an instrument.
Because music is an expressive art, I begin by becoming acquainted with with each student’s individual motivation for study and I expose students to the expressive qualities of music from many different cultures and periods of history.
Because mastering a musical instrument calls for an integration of mind and body, I emphasize physical awareness and ease as well as broad musical knowledge. In weekly lessons students study technique, music theory, ear training, improvisation, principles of learning, repertoire and performance.
Music allows us to better understand our inner life as well as the different perspectives of other people, cultures and historical periods. The study and performance of music makes the world a better place. I’ve received Artist Teacher Awards from the American String Teachers Association, the Romero Guitar Institute, and the Sierra Nevada Guitar Festival.
My students have won top awards in national and international competitions including the American String Teachers Association National Soloist Competition, the Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition, the Christopher Parkening International Youth Competition, the James Stroud Classical Guitar Competition and the YoungArts Competition. I got my first guitar after seeing the Beatles movie A Hard Day’s Night. I specialize in classical guitar but teach and encourage students to learn a wide variety of styles.