Music School
The Fifth String teaching staff offers instruction in just about every style. From the great flatpick licks of Clarence White, David Grier, and Tony Rice, to the fingerpicking styles of Mississippi John Hurt, Mark Hanson, and Pat Kirtley to the banjo of Earl Scruggs and mandolin of Bill Monroe. Irish, blues, bluegrass, contemporary, rock, jazz, and country - we love and play it all. Our studios are spacious, clean, and well ventilated to provide a very comfortable learning environment. We have brought together the best team of teachers in the Sacramento area with one goal in mind:
"To provide the highest level of professional instruction possible in a comfortable and relaxed environment, while most importantly, making it fun to learn music."
Call 916/442-8282 for detailed scheduling information.
Instructors
Robert Bowden
Robert plays everything with strings really well! He teaches fiddle, mandolin and banjo for the Fifth String. Fiddle in the styles of traditional bluegrass, contest waltzes, Irish and old timey. Mandolin in the traditional style of Bill Monroe and banjo in the style of Earl Scruggs and J.D. Crowe along with the frailing and claw hammer styles of Appalachia. From beginner to advanced, Robert teaches improvisation, music reading, and right hand technique and chord theory sufficient enough to participate in group jamming and band performing.
A master in the style of bluegrass, Robert is the teacher for intermediate and advanced players also. A fine instructor for beginners, Robert is at a level of playing that can add "game" to anybody's playing. A very skilled player, he can help any musician improve their chops on any instrument he plays.
Just an interesting note, when a young boy around ten, Robert took his first lessons in the mid sixties from some guy named Jerry Garcia in Palo Alto.
Much better than the late great Garcia on banjo for sure. Even played with some of the boys.
Want to be on top of your game, let Robert show some stuff.
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James Gavoni
James has been playing guitar for twenty-five years and teaching at the Fifth String for fifteen. Expertise in teaching classical, rock/metal, blues, folk, jazz, bluegrass and finger picking. James also teaches music reading and theory along with tablature and ear training. He earned an AA in music from American River College, a minor in music from California State University, Sacramento and currently plays in the local jazz duet, Eclectic Garden.
James is a very accomplished composer and writer and uses these skills to help the student become a versatile musician able to play improvisation in many different styles. Low key and patient, James has been very successful with the young adult wanting to explore the areas of modern rock. While teaching the student their favorite styles, he also introduces and explores other styles to help develop a well-rounded musician.
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Ross Hammond
With a BA in Education from California State University, Sacramento, Ross teaches folk, rock and jazz guitar in either standard notation or tablature. The founding member of the well-known jazz trio "The Sardonic", Ross helps the intermediate student understand and develop the necessary improvisational skills for playing in a band while guiding his beginning students through basic chord theory and song composition sufficient to play and sing most popular songs.
With his heart in jazz, Ross is an excellent teacher for that player who already knows some improv lead but wants to take it the next level of arrangement and composition. Passing chords and color tones, Ross is the guitarist that can show the new jazz player the ropes. One of best new up and coming players around.
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Mike Kelly
Having played for over twenty years, Mike teaches electric bass like no other person in town. With limited eyesight he has developed one of the areas best ears and has become a very sought after bass player for his ability to play almost any kind of music. He teaches in any style from funk to country, jazz to rock and has produced some of Sacramento's best young players. Mike has the ability to explain bass in a manner all his own, helping the bass player learn and understand the rhythm techniques unique to the various styles of music.
Having played with the likes of the Michael Gregory Jazz Band, Mercy ME and many others, Mike emphasizes the need to understand and play many different styles of music and encourages the student to explore them all.
From beginner to advanced, Mike is the kind of bass player that will inspire you to be the best bass player you can. No better player in this town.
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Peter Kett
Born in England, Peter has been playing guitar for over thirty years while teaching for twenty. His main area of expertise is in the styles of folk, rock blues and fingerpicking. A lover of all styles he is also adept at teaching beginning bluegrass flatpicking, classical, country, slide and open tuning. Pete has AA's in theory, songwriting and performance, and has nearly completed a BA in music from California State University, Sacramento. Lessons can be taught with standard notation, tablature or by ear. Pete has taught at the Fifth String for over ten years, and has become the best at teaching young children (ages 6 and above) and has developed a guitar instruction method with an approach of his own for teaching minors that have shown to be very successful.
To quote Pete, " I make a point of teaching the student what they want to learn, not just what I can teach. However while teaching the student the songs they like, I also introduce and teach a set curriculum for beginning and intermediate students. My intention is to help the student become a well-rounded and versatile musician".
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Steve McLean
Steve has been playing guitar for over thirty years and is one of Sacramento's best known and loved singer songwriters. Don't let that fool you, he also can rock and roll or play country with the best of them. The former host of Monday night open mike at the Fox & Goose, he teaches the solo guitarist how to play finger style, flatpicking and open tuning in styles that compliment those players that also sing. He is a very accomplished performer and emphasizes the need to play many different rhythms and styles of solo guitar in order to become a well-rounded and interesting performer.
Steve is very adept in DADGAD and other opening tunings along with having mastered the country blues styles of Mississippi John Hurt and Lighting Hopkins to name a few. Also skilled in melodic folk , drop D and Celtic, Steve is the teacher for any musician wanting to play the coffee shops and folk clubs in town. One of the best fingerpickers in town … check out his new cd!!!!!
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Chema Salinas
Chema's sidekick, Capone.
Chema Salinas has been playing the guitar for as long as he can remember. Introduced to classical music by his father, he was classically trained in high school by the then guitarist for the Sacramento Symphony, James Hunley. He has also played in a series of local rock bands. He studied music and recording engineering at Sacramento City College before acquiring a BA in multimedia communications from Sacramento State. He is well versed in multiple styles in addition to music theory but specializes in classical guitar and rock and roll. Beyond working at the store, he works in a local recording studio in search of the elusive perfect guitar tone. Most lessons are accompanied by Capone, Chema's faithful and ever-loving sidekick.
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Dave Shapiro
Our Berklee School of Music graduate with a B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) Musical Composition, Dave teaches jazz improvisation, composition and arranging. Dave has played and arranged for many great musicians including Bela Fleck, the late great Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Norton Buffalo and Tony Rice.
Dave teaches guitar, banjo, mandolin and uke in about any style you would like. A favorite of both the jazz and bluegrass communities, he teaches in both standard notation and tablature. One of the best at improvisation on guitar, banjo or mandolin, David uses the education he received to help the student develop into a good improv player. He works to explain and develop his jazz student's arrangement and composition skills sufficient enough to play in a jazz band while working with his folk, rock and bluegrass students to understand rhythm and lead techniques necessary to play in rock or bluegrass bands.
For all you advanced jazz players, here is a guy that can take you to the next level. Check out his new Jazz CD !!!!
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Greg Townsend
From the bay area bluegrass scene, Greg teaches bluegrass guitar, mandolin and beginning banjo. He was the guitar player from Grant Street String Band and currently plays mandolin with the Green Brothers.
Greg teaches bluegrass lead in the styles of Clarence White and Tony Rice along with traditional rhythm in the styles of Jimmy Martin and Lester Flatt. Lots of syncopation, crosspicking and bass runs mixed with right hand techniques that help develop strong bluegrass guitar players.
Greg also teaches mandolin in the style of the late great Bill Monroe. Emphasizing a strong right hand with great attention on rhythm, he helps the student learn the art of lead improvisation and rhythm necessary to play in a bluegrass band. Music is taught by tablature or by ear.
Greg teaches beginning banjo in the style of Earl Scruggs, introducing the student to the right hand techniques necessary to play bluegrass banjo.
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