David has availability for private lessons or special group workshops. Specializing in swing guitar, traditional blues styles, gypsy picking technique and folk, David also loves exploring songwriting and performance with students aspiring to break out of the living room and enter the stage. As a featured Artist and Teacher at the Coletrain Music Academy's Workshop David has worked with renowned violin teacher and internationally touring Artist Coleman Smith to craft a unique immersive music workshop in the beautiful Colorado town of Buena Vista. David has taught the 2019 and 20' classes and taught everything from beginner guitar concepts, to intermediate and advanced swing, blues and gypsy jazz techniques. He also took a deep dive into song writing and covered Chord Structure, Poetic concepts, melodic ideas, song structure and much more.
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“David Lawrence’s Gypsy Jazz clinic was a wonderful feature of the 2019 CMA Summer Workshop. David is beautifully proficient in this style of music and for those who are just starting, it is important for your first exposure to be done well and in a welcoming environment.
The class was approachable for the newcomers and provided something for all levels. The key rhythm style “La Pompe”, also the name of David’s band, was explained and taught clearly. This technique is the heart beat pacing Gypsy Jazz and requires one on one time with a very good teacher to get it right from the beginning.
David is that teacher. The new comers were taught a simpler rhythm as a stepping stone to the whole. For the more advanced students, David provided a great rhythm checkup, especially for those who might have strayed. Each student was given a clearly illustrated book of real life chords designed to allow you to work towards efficient chord transitions. This again is why a clinic is so important, the same fingering will not work for everyone.
All of our hands are different, if a chord shape isn’t working for you, a great teacher will help you find one that does. This critical feedback will give you hope and make your sound unique to you. It is something you wont get from YouTube. The song offerings gave opportunities for all levels. Like all the CMA classes, the emphasis was on making music with friends.
David’s classes were no exception. You are learning to collaborate and arrange (i.e. have fun and more fun) with friends. Once again David provided ideas for blending styles and making songs your own. Overall a great short stop for directions on your never-ending journey through music.” – Matthew Maloney | CMA Student & 2018, 2019, 2020 Workshop Attendee.