Charlie Apicella

Teaching Topics and Philosophy

Topics:
jazz guitar, beginner guitar private and group instruction. Jazz guitar comping and rhythm guitar styles. Big band guitar. Bossa nova, blues, soul-jazz comping styles. Jazz improvisation, beginners and intermediate. Chord-melody arrangements. Reading music, writing music. Music theory.

Philosophy:
My teaching method has two ideas at it’s core: “Music is Easy,” and “Go to the Source.”
I am a patient teacher. I have helped absolute beginners of all ages up to semi-professionals to feel comfortable with the instrument and to unlock their love of music. They learn that music is easy. My method can be described as “go to the source” and I use jazz records as my main curriculum. My focus is on being able to sit down and play something on the guitar, a complete song, whenever the mood strikes. I learned to play because I was motivated by my love of performing music. This has taught me that The Music is the most important element in studying any instrument, and I have earned to enjoy the challenge of daily practice. I strive to show students that the motivation to learn music comes from within and from the element of self exploration that music study offers.

Biography

Charlie Apicella has studied improvisation and composition with Pat Martino, Yusef Lateef, Archie Shepp, and Dave Stryker.

“I think you will find that “Sparks” will light the artistic fires of the soul and intellect.” Heartfully, YUSEF LATEEF

“Apicella is a lithe, swinging guitarist with an affinity for the contrasting styles of both Grant Green and Wes Montgomery…An all-around impressive debut by a guitarist of substance.” MARK GARDNER, Jazz Journal

Classic jazz guitar tone and phrasing are the cornerstone of Charlie’s playing. He is the leader of the organ trio Iron City and has produced three of the band’s recordings.

He has published lessons for DownBeat and Just Jazz Guitar magazines and hosts his own private lesson teaching website.

His straight-ahead sound has him among the first call as an accompanist for vocalists and his Freddie Green-style rhythm guitar playing keeps him in constant demand for big bands.

Charlie Apicella is an Eastman Guitars Featured Artist, a Guild Guitars Sponsored Artist, and a ZT Amplifiers Official Artist, and a regular contributor to Vintage Guitar Magazine’s YouTube channel.

Discography

“One Night Only: a tribute to Jack McDuff” 2018, CArlo Music
“Payin’ The Cost To Be The Boss: a tribute to BB King” 2016
“Big Boss” 2014, ZOHO Records
“The Business” 2011, CArlo Music
“Sparks” 2010, CArlo Music

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