ab Menon started playing music at a young age and graduated from Sonoma State University with a B.M. in Jazz Studies and Applied Music. He teaches guitar and has experience performing in groups ranging from New Orleans jazz to progressive rock to R&B. Currently he plays with Soul Glitch, a live interpretation of EDM-inspired conscious pop while also freelancing as a jazz guitarist. Some of ab’s notable performances include the Philadelphia Folk Festivals (’16 and ’18), the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (’17 and ’18), and the Strawberry Music Festival (’15 and ’16).
ab’s teaching philosophy is based on Victor Lin’s doctoral dissertation, “Practice makes personal: A study of the formative experiences of jazz pianists.” Lin studied five great jazz pianists from different generations and his findings can be distilled into four two-sided points that make an excellent guide for any musician.
1. Playing by ear & reading
2. Social listening & individual study of recordings
3. Frequent, low-stakes performance (club dates, jam sessions) & infrequent high-stakes performance (recitals)
4. Casual social playing (the hang and jam) & individual practice
2. Social listening & individual study of recordings
3. Frequent, low-stakes performance (club dates, jam sessions) & infrequent high-stakes performance (recitals)
4. Casual social playing (the hang and jam) & individual practice
ab’s approach to teaching uses material that students are interested in as a vehicle for learning about different elements of music. He teaches online private lessons in guitar.
