Guitar & Bass

Steve Sledje
Guitar
719.473.0880
719.205.1993

Steve attended Butler University in Indianapolis, Purdue University of Indianapolis, and Berklee College of Music in Boston, and is a continuing student of life. He has played the guitar for thirty years, and has played with L.A. Guns/Slash from Guns & Roses and Molly Hatchet, and he is a certified Fender product specialist. He has recorded and released six CDs with international success, has his own production company, and is in the process of writing a book on lead guitar. He teaches all ages and specializes in the middle and high school level. He has been teaching since he was twenty and does it for the love it. You will get a sound foundation of theory and technique as well as improvisation and writing at the professional level. Check out YouTube for a few recordings of his lessons.

Rick Taylor
Electric & Acoustic Guitar; Bass; Music Theory
719.330.1556
719.535.8115

Rick teaches electric and acoustic guitar at all levels and ages, and tailors his curriculum to the individual student with emphasis on reading, learning songs, scales/chords, and music theory to understand how music works.  Rick has studied privately with multiple advance level instructors throughout his career and has taught since 1999 (at Graner Music since 2003).  His lifetime passion for music began very early on and since the age of 17 he has been  a performing artist at all venue types.  He currently sings and plays lead guitar with two local favorite groups and has recorded 2 CD's.   He is currently writing a book on music theory and as a music instructor he is well known for his patience and dedication for quality lessons to all his students.

Steve Gibson
Guitar, beginning Bass
719.244.4583

This is the 4th year that Steve has taught guitar at Graner after twenty plus years of playing beginning in the 1970’s. He teaches all ages, beginning to advanced and will work with the student to create a personalized curriculum involving lots of playing coupled with music theory. He teaches a variety of advanced styles from Acoustic Finger style to Blues and Rock with electric guitar or beginner bass.

Eric Blackmore
Guitar
719.532.1238

Eric is a guitarist, composer and educator, and has been performing and teaching in the Pikes Peak area since 1993. He has been playing professionally since high school, touring with bands such as No Justice and Hippie Yard Dawgs, and currently plays with many local bands in the Colorado Springs area. He is primarily self-taught, and has taken college level music theory classes, college level composition classes, and voice studies in college. He has very broad musical tastes, and believes this translates into an appreciation for all styles of music, which makes its easy for him to relate to any style of music his students may want to play. He has performed everything from country to funk to metal, and believes that music is for everyone. He teaches all levels, and does well with intermediate, beginner, and also with advanced musicians.

John McDaniel
Guitar
719.638.1544

John graduated from the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood in 1993. He is trained in many styles including Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country, Funk, classical and fusion. He has been a full time musician since 1990, and performed in many bands locally, nationally, and in Germany. He has attended workshops with Steve Morse, Al DiMeola, Paul Gilbert, and Albert Collins. He has taught for over fifteen years, and is great for all levels and most ages. He is also able to teach advanced students.

Dan Nelson
Guitar and Bass
719.630.7457

Dan started playing in bands in the late 1970’s, and has played guitar, bass, mandolin and keyboard in various groups.  He has a degree is Recording Engineering and Production. He teaches guitar, bass and mandolin in many different styles of music. He is very kid friendly, and specializes in beginners and intermediate players. He has taught here at Graner for ten years, and is currently a composer and a performer.