Introduction

Hi, I'm Marcus Bonfanti and I've been asked by Music Gurus and Rock School to take you through some of the blues, country, and rock music on the course they offer.

My Musical Background

I suppose I've been asked to do this because of my background. Where I come from musically is a very bluesy and rock-oriented place. I play a lot of country as well.

• I started out playing in rock and roll bands when I was younger.
• I became a session musician for a while, playing with some pop music acts.
• More recently, I've specialized in rock and blues and had the pleasure of working with some of my heroes.

Collaborations

I've had the chance to work with:

• Eric Clapton
• David Gilmore
• Shuggie Otis
• Ginger Baker
• Van Morrison
• Tom Jones

I've learned a lot from these people, and the experience has been fantastic. I'm hoping to pass on much of this knowledge that I've gathered over the last 15 years of being a professional musician to you through the Music Gurus and Rock School course.

Learning Journey

I've enjoyed learning these pieces, as I'm sure you guys have too. There are lots of techniques in them, ranging from:

• Simple, fundamental techniques at the beginning
• To more complex techniques towards the end for higher grades

This is going to be a big journey for you, and I'm looking forward to embarking on it together.

Techniques to Explore

• Early Stages: We'll talk about double stops and pre-bends.
• Later Stages: We'll expand into hybrid techniques and pedal steel bends where you're pre-bending and holding notes.

By the end of this course, you will have developed many techniques, and hopefully, a lot of musicality and musical ideas in your playing that you can then take on and do whatever you want with.

Building Solos

We'll discuss:

• How to Start and Finish Solos: Expressing yourself through your music.
• Pointers and Tips: I'll share insights I've gathered over the years to help you improve.

I'm looking forward to passing these tips on to you.

Closing Thoughts

So, good luck with everything! I hope you gain a lot from this experience. I'm excited to start teaching you!