Bass, Composition, Guitar, Songwriting, Ukulele (including Baritone), Mandolin
Rock, Pop, Improvisation, Jazz, Theory
Songwriting, Composition and Improvisation, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Fingerstyle, Flatpicking, Open Tunings, Slide, Bass, Music Theory, Ear Training, Alternative/Indie Rock
A recipient of The Old Town School Of Folk Music’s 2016 Distinguished Teaching Artist award, Charles loves to teach beginning to advanced students who are open to new ideas and excited and eager to create something new. You can take private guitar, bass, ukulele and songwriting lessons with Charles or experience his teaching in a group guitar, ukulele, ensemble, or songwriting class.
During private lessons, students will learn to improve overall playing, bring in their favorite songs to explore the technique of their instrument, and can explore rock, country, funk, classical, fingerstyle, blues, and jazz!
Charles’ songwriting classes provide a fun and supportive space to explore and create songs. Brand new songwriters will learn the basics of composition, while more experienced songwriters can bring in ideas that they haven't completed, either to learn the craft of using chords, melodies, lyrics and structure, or to help with new approaches to songwriting. Charles has also taught how to write a pop-song, how to figure out and play favorite tunes, the basics of band arrangements, and how to prepare for the recording studio.
Charles has appeared on more than 30 albums, works as a producer/recorder, and written works for theater, dance companies and film.
Charles’ current top ten records in no particular order:
Miles Davis Bitches Brew
The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Beatles Revolver
Townes Van Zandt Live At The Old Quarter
Kate Bush Hounds Of Love
Brian Eno Another Green World
The Police Reggatta De Blanc
Gillian Welch Time The Revelator
Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane
Rush Moving Pictures
David Bowie Low
Education: Charles has studied with McArthur Grant Recipient Ken Vandermark for Jazz Studies and Improvisation, and studied Classical Guitar at Vanderbilt University.
Started at the Old Town School in January of 1999
