BFA - Multi-focus Guitar - California Institute of Arts

 

Andre LaFosse has been playing guitar for 35 years, writing and recording original music for even longer, and teaching guitar on a steady basis for nearly two decades, to hundreds of private students of all ages and abilities.
 

Professional experience
Andre has performed with and/or shared bills with musicians including David Torn, Kronos Quartet, Michael Manring, Terry Riley, Mike Keneally, Henry Kaiser, Don Preston, and Wadada Leo Smith. His eclectic performance background stretches from solo electronic experimentation and contemporary classical ensembles, to classic rock cover groups and children's rock band programs.
 

Some of his accomplishments include
• Performing at the New York Guitar Festival in 2004 and 2006, and Disney Hall in 2009
• Playing on the original soundtracks to several Hollywood films
• Performing on, and being interviewed for, WNYC radio's New Sounds program
• Being covered in publications including Guitar Player, Mojo, Alternative Press, and Tape Op.
 

Teaching Philosophy
Andre's teaching emphasizes patience and flexibility throughout the learning process. He encourages students to look at musical challenges not as intimidating obstacles, but as normal parts of anyone's musical development. One of his key philosophical guidelines is: if we were already playing everything right, there would be no reason to take lessons.
 

For beginners, he has a wide range of approaches to introduce different concepts, and a long history of addressing and correcting problems with physical technique. For more experienced players, Andre has spent extensive time teaching rock, jazz, classical, blues, folk, and world music, as well as writing, improvising, ear training, and studio recording. Beyond specific genres, he encourages ongoing study of the core aspects of playing that exist in any type of music, including tone, rhythm, articulation, phrasing, timing, and dynamics.