My Teaching Philosophy
As an instructor, my goal is to guide my students to new heights of technical proficiency while also giving them the tools to understand music and express their creativity. For me, the benefit of learning an instrument comes not only from being able to play a song, but from the discipline, insight, reflection, and character development gained from mastering an art.
Biography
Nathan Kirkwood is a classical guitarist and private music instructor based in the Los Angeles metropolitan Area.
A musician from a very young age, Mr. Kirkwood has been playing string-family instruments for over two decades, with guitar being his primary instrument of study for more than half that time. In addition to his forte of classical style guitar, Nathan is also adept in popular guitar idioms, as well as 5-string bluegrass-style banjo.
Nathan maintains a vibrant musical life, and has participated in numerous public and private performances, as well as recording sessions at Raydon Studios of Keego Harbor, MI. He has performed in masterclasses for internationally acclaimed performers Iliana Matos, Paul Galbraith, GFA International Concert Artist Competition winner Tengyue Zheng, and Mathew Slotkin of Duo Montagnard.
Mr. Kirkwood enjoys taking on new challenges, and recently completed a concert series in Mexico to debut new works by composer Uriel Callejas as part of the Tempo Öme flute and guitar duo. This tour highlighted the works of contemporary award-winning Latin-American composers Horacio Fernandez-Vazquez and Uriel Callejas and spanned the states of Mexico and Hidalgo.
Aside from his performance activities, Nathan is also a passionate teacher of several different instruments including guitar, piano, violin, and several others. He has experience with a wide age range of students from the age of four to adults.
When not teaching or practicing, Nathan enjoys traveling, cycling, and reading. He also finds time to volunteer whenever possible, and has assisted with the Guitars Not Guns organization, conducting pro bono group lessons to underprivileged students.
Mr. Kirkwood holds a bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Performance from Oakland University in Rochester, MI.