Jeff Foster (guitar, banjo, bass)
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- Instructor of Advanced Guitar at Indiana University – Bloomington (1984-1988)
- Master Music Artist with Very Special Arts – Indiana (1984-1988)
- Instructor of Classical Guitar at California State University – Bakersfield (1991-1995)
- Adjunct Faculty for Guitar, Banjo and Theory at Ivy Tech Community College – Bloomington, Indiana (2009-2013).
A bit of a “child prodigy”, Jeff was banging away on a ukulele as a toddler, began taking formal instruction on the guitar at age 10, and by the time he was a sophomore in high school was giving private lessons on guitar, banjo and bass at a local guitar shop in his hometown of Muncie, Indiana (he has also played mando instruments, fiddle, and pedal steel, but doesn’t feel qualified to teach these instruments professionally). His early training in classic and contemporary guitar technique, music notation and theory has played an enormous role in his development as a player, and he enjoys sharing this important knowledge base with motivated students.
In 1986, during his tenure as a student of Ethnomusicology at Indiana University in Bloomington, Jeff was recruited as a guitar instructor by IU’s renowned School of Music. He began by teaching classes for beginners and intermediate students, and by the time he left Indiana for California in 1990, Jeff had taught hundreds of IU students to play guitar, and created an advanced-level class called Sight Reading and Ear Training for Guitar, writing the textbook himself.
In California during the 90s, Jeff was tapped to teach classical guitar at California State University – Bakersfield, a post he held for four years. This was one-on-one instruction, exclusively in the classical style, with a little flamenco for students interested in the music of the Andalusian Gypsies.
In 2009, Jeff launched his Recreational Guitar class at Ivy Tech Community College – Bloomington, Indiana. Operating out of the John Waldron Arts Center in downtown Bloomington, Jeff soon expanded his Ivy Tech program to include Recreational 5-string Banjo and Introduction to Music Theory.
Happily ensconced in his new hometown of Nashville, Indiana, Jeff has launched his own private teaching facility, StringDancer Music Studio. CLICK HERE for more information on Jeff’s current music instruction programs.
In addition to being a performer, producer and composer, teaching music has always been a cornerstone of Jeff’s professional life. Since first beginning to teach music back in the early 70’s, Jeff has honed the skills necessary to reveal the intricate complexities of stringed instruments in manageable, progressive lessons, while preserving the fun and enjoyment of the music-making art.
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