Fret Dojo instructors Greg O’Rourke and Ryan Dillahay sat down with one of the guitar’s leading performers and instructors, Rotem Sivan, just a few weeks before his new release in Jan 2024!
Audio Version:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:06 — 95.4MB)
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Key Highlights:
- Rotem has an eclectic musical background, studying classical composition and guitar as well as jazz
- He was immersed in high-level classical music from a young age which inspired him to learn more deeply
- Moving to New York and attending music school there was a shock that pushed him to study and improve more
- Key tips for jazz guitar practice: learn songs deeply, understand melody/chords relationship, sing melodies, start simple then dive deeper into changes
- Improvisation tips: see the fretboard clearly, know chord tones, feel the rhythm, transcribe masters like Wes Montgomery
- Gear setup: uses a hollow body archtop guitar with blending pickup, mic and piezo for wide range of sounds
- Recommends finding a teacher or mentor to guide you rather than just using books/YouTube
- As a teacher, focuses on fundamentals like a language – simple pieces that clarify musical relationships
Where to find out more:
Rotem’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RotemSivanGuitar
Rotem on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rotemsivanguitar/
Rotem’s Website: https://www.rotemsivan.com
What are your thoughts?
What stood out or gave you something to think about (there’s a lot here!)?
Leave your comments below!
