Alex Nauman

Certified Private Instructor

Alex has been been a regular player throughout the Rocky Mountain Gig circuit and an integral member of a long list of eclectic groups even before he could drive himself to gigs, playing everything from straight-ahead Jazz, Bop, Funk, R&B, Soul, Rock, Hip-Hop, Big-Band Swing, Acoustic Bluegrass, Avant Garde and Experimental. Raised in Wyoming’s Big Horn Basin, Alex began studying guitar with legendary guitarist Jeff Troxel at a very early age. A three-year stint in the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Studies program yielded Alex a Bachelor’s degree in jazz guitar performance. During his stay in Colorado, he won numerous soloist awards at the UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival and was awarded the Walt Francis Jazz Award for outstanding graduating senior. In 2014 Alex joined the staff of Rocky Mountain College as professor of guitar and currently teaches guitar, bass, and banjo at Allied Music in Billings, MT as well as maintaining an active performance schedule throughout the West.

TEACHING STYLE

My goal as a music teacher is to turn my students into the best players they can be. To achieve this goal I focus on giving them a well-rounded approach. I work on theory, rhythm, improvisation techniques, and overall technical facility on their instrument as well as learning skill-level appropriate songs and material so the student gets an idea of the “real world” application. This includes a balance of learning from books and by ear. I try to prepare my students for real life gigging situations in multiple genres, as well as the modern music business world. This often means bringing them to jam sessions and making them play with veteran pros. More than anything, I try to stress that music is a powerful connecting force in world and that as musicians we should be striving to better ourselves as players and the human condition as artists.