Guitar Lessons at Swallow Hill Music

Michael Stanwood

See Michael’s classes here.

Autoharp, Didjeridu, Guitar

Lover of world music | Swallow Hill outreach instructor | folk-fusion inspiration | toured Southeast Asia | autoharp master

Teaching style: With a relaxed style, Michael believes teaching is about empowering students through their own creativity. He believes real leaps happen when the students love the sound of their chosen instrument and are learning songs or music they love.

Martin Gilmore

See Martin’s classes here.

Martin is a bluegrass musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and music educator based in Denver, Colorado. He is a founding member of the bluegrass band Long Road Home, an acclaimed solo performer, and band leader for The Martin Gilmore Trio.

He has performed all over the United States, as well as in Europe and Africa. He is also a highly respected music educator, teaching at the University of Denver Enrichment Program, his own private studio, and right here at Swallow Hill Music. In 2017, he joined the faculty at the University of Northern Colorado teaching folk and bluegrass guitar.

Josiah Contreras

Bass Guitar, Guitar, Ukulele

Josiah hails from right here in beautiful Denver. With musicians for parents (who have both taught at Swallow Hill), the musician’s path was laid out for Josiah at an early age. After picking up the bass guitar and playing at church, Josiah went off to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music, where he learned from such heavy hitters as Victor Wooten, James Genus and Livingston Taylor. After returning home, Josiah has built up his playing career as a freelance musician, along with his own band, Elk Song. Josiah eventually found his way back home to Swallow Hill, and is excited to take on a new generation of students. Outside the world of music, Josiah loves kicking back to enjoy a good movie, or hiking or rock climbing like a true Coloradan.

First concert? NSYNC, Mile High Stadium!

What song could you listen to all day long? “Ain’t It Fun” by Paramore

Favorite Colorado hangout? Anywhere there’s family or friends!

What is your favorite thing about Swallow Hill, or your favorite Swallow Hill memory?One of my favorite memories in Swallow Hill was putting on a concert in Daniel’s Hall to celebrate my mom’s life. So thankful that it took place in a space she loved so much.

Paul Trunko

See Paul’s classes here and his private lessons here.

Guitar, Electric Bass, Harmonica

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, longtime Swallow Hill teacher Paul Trunko started here as a staff member and then moved to teaching while performing in the area music scene. He’s a past and sometimes member of bands like Papa Juke, Shakedown Street, One Kind Favor, The Keepers, Quickdraw, and currently performs with Stef Kull in a piano/guitar duo. Paul teaches Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Beginning Harmonica and Electric Bass in a variety of genres including rock, blues, bluegrass, and folk. When not teaching you can find Paul working in his home studio, managing cartoon band Jammy Man, or riding his e-bike up and down the hills in Golden.

First Concert: Natural Gas, Gary Wright, Peter Frampton – 1976?

What song could you listen to all day long? With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker

Favorite hangout? Any Mexican Restaurant

What is your favorite thing about Swallow Hill, or your favorite Swallow Hill memory? Teachers Concerts

Jason McIntyre

See Jason’s classes here and private lessons here.

Guitar, Songwriting, Ukulele, Mandolin, Dobro

I came to songwriting early. When I picked up a guitar as an adolescent, I was more interested in creating my own material than covering what was on radio and MTV. While The Beatles and Beach Boys were formative bands for me, The Band became a favorite as well and they helped open a new door to me of Americana and roots-based music. Like the lyrics of a song, I’ve traveled extensively and the music has always gone with me.

As a teacher, I focus on acoustic folk and blues music, but I teach other genres including bluegrass, rock, and country. Whether it’s songwriting, guitar or uke playing, or in an ensemble setting, I guide students to develop their musical skills in an approachable and conversational style.

Jarett Mason

See Jarett’s classes here and his private lessons here.

Mandolin, Fiddle/Violin, Guitar, Ukulele

Teaching style: Jarett plays and offers theory-based instruction on several instruments including mandolin, guitar, fiddle, and ukulele.

Ernie Martinez

See Ernie’s private lessons here.

Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Lap Steel, Pedal Steel

In the classroom, Ernie Martinez inspires a multitude of generations learning bluegrass and country, from beginners to advanced pickers and singers.

A Swallow Hill Faculty Member for 40 years, he is an extremely versatile musician who plays just about any instrument that has strings, and more. Ernie started playing piano in elementary school but got his start playing guitars and drums in late 60s garage bands. In 1971, while he was in junior high, upon hearing “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” and “Dueling Banjos”, Ernie took to the banjo, followed by the mandolin, resonator, and Dobro. In 1974 Ernie started his first bluegrass band, the Off the Wall Gang, and picked up the fiddle, piano, bass, and pedal steel a couple years later, becoming the leading go-to utility performer in Colorado, both live and in the studio. With over four decades on the live scene, Ernie has played with Tom Paxton, John McEuen, Jimmy Ibbotson, and countless others.. In 2013 he took third place in the RockyGrass Band contest with Camptown.

In the studio, Ernie has been on over 150 albums in Colorado and in Nashville, and is in demand as an album producer, songwriter, and arranger. He’s also released three albums of his own original work.

Ernie plays regularly with Runaway Express, Jon Chandler, Dakota Blonde, Timothy P. Irvin and the Rocky Mountain Stocking Stuffers, Reckless Abandon, Dustin Devine and the Real Deal, and Junction 5-12. Heis a member of the International Western Music Association having won instrumentalist of the year in 2018. In April 2019, Ernie made the cover of the Spring issue of Western Way.

Thomas Jennings

See Thomas’s classes here.

Guitar

Thomas Jennings is originally from Ipswich, Massachusetts, with a B.M. in jazz guitar performance from Lamont School of Music. While gigging and touring are wonderful, teaching is a special part of his career. Sharing in the joy of accomplishment with students is something he can’t get enough of. He teaches guitar in various genres and styles, music theory, and technology classes. He specializes in the creative and spontaneous relationship we have with our instruments. Other activities he loves include coffee, photography, and tinkering with computers.

First Concert: B.B. King! at the North Shore Music Theater in Beverly, MA. That theater is in the round and the stage slowly rotates for the entire performance.

What song could you listen to all day? “Love U Like The Sun In June” by Ryan Scott

Favorite Denver/Colorado hangout? Queen City Coffee Collective on 1st and Cherokee in Baker neighborhood

Casey Hrdlicka

See Casey’s classes here and his private lessons here.

Electric Bass, Guitar, Music Theory, Piano/Keyboard, Ukulele, Mandolin

Originally from Arvada, Casey began playing guitar at age 11. As he dove deeper into music, he realized his calling was teaching other people what he had learned along the way. Casey teaches guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, mandolin, music theory, and various ensemble classes. As a teacher, he likes to focus on developing a firm understanding of rhythm, harmony, and how the instrument itself works. He is open to teaching any musical style/technique that the student is interested in. Outside of work, Casey enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, being outdoors, and playing chess.

First Concert: The first concert Casey remembers attending was the Guess Who in 1994.

What song could you listen to all day long? “Into The Fire” by Deep Purple

Favorite Denver/Colorado hangout? His favorite hangout would probably be a vacant trail deep in the mountains.

What is your favorite thing about Swallow Hill, or your favorite Swallow Hill memory? My favorite thing about Swallow Hill is that everyone who comes here all share a love for music.

Melissa Ivey

See Melissa’s private lessons here.

Guitar, Ukulele, Voice, Audio Production, Bass Guitar

Melissa is a self-taught artist and an award-winning Singer/Songwriter and educator from Denver. Her musical journey began in the Bay Area punk scene, grew in Colorado’s songwriting circles, and continues in performances worldwide as well as in the classroom. Melissa works with musicians and artists of any level and welcomes femme students searching for support in singing, songwriting, guitar, bass and production.

Spencer Crawford

See Spencer’s classes here and his private lessons here.

Accordion, Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele

Spencer Erik Crawford is from Northeast Kansas. He started teaching music in 2006 back in his hometown of Topeka, while attending Washburn University. In 2014, while he was teaching lessons at music stores and schools in Denver he was recruited by other teachers to join Swallow Hill. He teaches strings, keys/piano, and accordion, and tailors lesson plans to each student based on their skill level and musical interests. When Spencer is not teaching music, he enjoys performing solo or with his bands, That Damn Sasquatch, and the Spencer Erik Crawford Band. He also enjoys listening to music and hanging out with his family and friends.

First concert? B.B. King

What song could you listen to all day long? “A Love Supreme” – the whole album

Favorite Colorado hangout? Most bars and clubs, I’m not picky!

What’s your favorite Swallow Hill memory? When Buckwheat Zydeco played at Swallow Hill in 2014

Deborah Collins

See Deborah’s classes here and private lessons here.

Guitar, Voice, Ukulele, Songwriting

As a teen growing up in rural Michigan, Deborah wrote music, played in a rock band, and sang in choirs. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education from MSU Denver, and has taught at Swallow Hill since 2014. She specializes in teaching voice (any level in any genre) and guitar (especially beginner-intermediate rhythm guitar). Deborah also teaches songwriting, music theory, and beginner ukulele. Deborah is great for tentative learners because she is friendly and positive. She strives to make each lesson fun, stress-free, and customized to your personal goals. Deborah works with all ages. She is currently a member of the indie band, The Deborah Solo Trio, and is the parent of two young kids.

First Concert: The first concert Deborah attended was Guster in 1999, when she was a freshman in high school. Her older sister drove her and her friends all the way to Detroit to see Guster open for a much bigger band. They made posters and T-shirts and the people working there let them run down to the front since hardly anyone else had arrived early enough to see the first opening band.

What song could you listen to all day long? “In a River” by Rostam; Deborah even learned some chords on the mandolin just to play along with it.

Favorite hangout? Deborah loves to take a yearly trip to Lake Michigan to visit her family at the cottage her grandparents built in the 1950s. It’s awesome to take her kids there because that’s where she spent her summers as a kid, too.

What is your favorite thing about Swallow Hill, or your favorite Swallow Hill memory? Deborah’s favorite Swallow Hill memories are when her students have had those great breakthrough moments. She also loves participating in the annual Teacher Feature concert, and getting to share the stage with all the amazing musicians who teach at Swallow Hill.

Nic Clark

See Nic’s classes here and his private lessons here.

Harmonica, Guitar

Nic Clark is a Harmonicist born and raised in Colorado. Growing up Nic wasn’t as interested in hanging with his friends as much as he was with his family’s music collection. Whether it was listening to Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye with his Mom, or Hound dog Taylor with his dad, Nic always had a love for older American music. Nic got his first set of harmonicas on his 12th birthday, and soon began going to local jams and sitting in with some of Colorado’s most prominent Blues acts including The Delta Sonics, Johnny Long, Lionel Young, and Dan Trenor and Afrosippi. In 2010, he became one of the youngest musicians ever to be endorsed by Hohner Harmonicas.

Some of Nic’s accomplishments include “Favorite Harmonica” at the Colorado Blues Society Member’s Choice Awards (2017, 2015, and 2014), And a finalist at The International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN (2012, and 2014).

Nic has been fortunate enough to share the stage with many great roots musicians including John Nemeth, Jason Ricci, Lonnie Brooks, Billy Branch, Rick Estrin and The Nightcats, And Big Head Todd and The Monsters.

David Thomas Bailey

See David’s classes here and his private lessons here.

Colorado | M.M. in Jazz Studies | member of Man vs. Village | performed with Howard Alden and Joe Giglio | workshops for Jefferson County Public Schools

Teachings style: David’s specialty is teaching formal composition and improvisation to children and teens.

Liat Arochas

See Liat’s classes here, and her private lessons here.

Guitar, Songwriting, Ukulele, Voice

Liat is originally from South Jersey, right outside of Philadelphia. While teaching preschool after moving to Denver, she was approached to become an outreach instructor at Swallow Hill, where she had always wanted to work. Although she now lives in Palisade, she teaches virtual classes in voice, guitar, ukulele, beginner piano, and songwriting/production. When she is not working, you can find her doing sound healings and running her business, Wake the Voice, where she blends her background in speech therapy, yoga, singing, and songwriting. You can also find her performing solo as Liat and the Sirens or with her band DARKARTS (based in Denver).

First concert? Sarah Brightman. I was obsessed with her album DIVE. A true siren.

Favorite hangout? Fruita, CO

What is your favorite thing about Swallow Hill, or your favorite Swallow Hill memory? I used to do Instrument Petting zoos and Ukulele strum alongs. I taught outreach for a while before COVID hit. My heart always felt so warm after the family ukulele strum alongs at the Children’s Museum in Denver. Everyone was always in a great mood because they were trying something new with their families! Talk about bonding time!

Eman Alexander

See Eman’s classes here.

Guitar, Bass Guitar, Theory, Production

Eman was born in New York, but grew up in Aurora, CO. He has been performing for 8 years, began officially teaching lessons in 2020, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Music (B.M.) from MSU Denver the same year. Outside of work, Eman loves playing golf and softball, playing video games, and tinkering with electronics.

First concert? Marcus Roberts when I was 7 or 8 – but I went to see Odd Future on my own at 17.

What’s a song you could listen to all day long? “Aguas De Marco” by Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim, or “Back to the Future (Part 1)” by D’Angelo

Favorite Colorado hangout? Meadowlark Bar

Daniella Katzir & Casey Cormier

Casey Cormier has been a bassist, guitarist and ukuleleist for twenty five years, performing a variety of musical styles on each instrument as a solo artist as well as in a number of bands and projects. He’s been a teacher of these instruments for over fifteen years, and is dedicated to furthering his student’s studies of the musical craft. Currently, Casey offers classes online as well as in person at Swallow Hill, and co-leads the Ukulele and Percussion Ensemble with Ed Contreras on Wednesday evenings.

Daniella Katzir is a singer-songwriter who was originally inspired by American Folk music of the 60’s. After exploring many genres over the last 25+ years, Katzir now focuses on a unique blend of ukulele and finger-style guitar. Her style is complemented by vocal approaches from the swing era to old motown inspired blues to americana folk, gypsy and sassy jazz. A talented lyricist and musician, Katzir takes rhythmic authority on the guitar. She is the former front-woman of the Boulder-based band Magnolia Row, and has shared the stage with many different nationally and internationally touring artists.

Halau Kalama Hula School

Founded in 2007, by Glenda “Aiwa” Florez, Kalama Polynesian Dancers has been a part of the Colorado community, bringing a mix of traditional and contemporary Polynesian entertainment to a variety of venues and local festivals. Their dancers specialize in dances from the islands of Tahiti, Hawaii, Samoa, and New Zealand. They have been featured on local and national events from MTV to Univision and performed in front of celebrities such as Will Smith, John Lithgow, and The Denver Broncos. They have performed in numerous venues throughout Colorado. They provide professional Polynesian dance shows, guaranteed to make you feel as though you’ve traveled to the islands of Polynesia.

Their shows include both male and female dancers, live musicians, Tahitian drummers, fire performers, and fresh flower leis.

Guitar Instruction at Swallow Hill Music

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