17 Marble Ave.
Pleasantville , NY 10570
ph: 914-347-3470
rick
Music is dear to me. As a teacher of music I define my goal as that of imparting the basic principals of my chosen art to uninitiated individuals, in the hopes that they will take what they learn, internalize it, and through the application of musical creativity, use it as a means of personal expression. The accomplishment of this goal necessitates a careful interweaving of my personal passion for music, with dedication, and sensitivity to the individual interests and needs of of my students.
Although I had first discovered music in elementary school, I pursued the study of guitar and jazz composition as a student Berklee College of Music in Boston. During my years as a student, I had the distinct pleasure of performing with a variety of jazz and funk ensembles throughout the greater Boston area, Manhattan, and Alabama. In addition to guitar performances, I often returned to my first musical love, the flute, playing with wind ensembles and recording performances for use in film production. These experiences afforded me the opportunity to put into practice what I was learning in Berklee classroom. Furthermore, they not only deepened my love of musical expression, but inspired me to share my passion with others.
Today, I am both a classroom teacher and a private guitar instructor. Although I enjoy teaching groups of students to work as an ensemble, it is in private guitar lessons that I forge the kinds of personal relationships I most enjoy. It is through private guitar lessons that my students are able to achieve the unique goals they set out for themselves.
My success as a teacher of music rests on my ability to meaningful relationships with my students, based on reciprocal respect and appreciation. I believe the experience of music to be a highly personal, and therefore, sensitive matter. What I share with all of my students is not just my technical knowledge and experience, but my love for music itself. As a result, it is my goal to enable my students to express themselves musically in whichever genre they choose. My teaching merely forms the hub of my students musical knowledge, around which they can organize the spokes of their individual interests. In the end, I aim not only to teach, but to inspire.
GRP/Verve recording artist John Pondel (Kombo) launched his professional music career auspiciously at the age of 21, when he became a member of the Grammy-award wining Gerald Wilson Orchestra. Playing alongside such notables as Harold Land, Snooky Young and Marshal Royal for over two years led to further work in nightclubs, touring, motion picture soundtrack work and recording sessions, as well as his own
career as an artist. As a studio musician and live jazz performer he has worked with
most of the West Coast luminaries, including Tom Scott, Art Pepper, Al Jarreau, Steve
Ferrone, Buddy Collette, Dean Parks, Bissonette Brothers, Joe Williams, Don Menza,
Pete Jolly, the Condole brothers, Warne Marsh and many New York stalwarts (including
Jim Pugh, Randy Brecker, George Young, Uptown Horns, Will Lee). In addition to being a clinician and private instructor for over 25 years, he was the guitar and jazz ensemble
instructor at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York, from 1999-2003. He has also
been a clinician for Yamaha Music corporation and has been an endorsee for Ibanez
guitars and strings.
In 2004 he played rhythm guitar on George Bensons Take You Out, which was nominated for a best Pop Instrumental Grammy. Among the artists he has recorded with or accompanied live are: George Benson, Bob James, Barry Manilow, Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Gerry Mulligan, Diane Schurr, Rick Braun, Aretha Franklin, Joe Williams, Tom Scott, Al Jarreau, David Benoit, Rick Braun, Soul Ballet, Randy Crawford, Kirk Whalum, Carmen McRae, Dave Koz, Art Pepper, The Dramatics, and Stanley Clarke. He has performed with many of New Yorks leading practitioners of progressive jazz including Gene Lake, David Gilmore, David Binney, Adam Rogers, and Scott Colley.
Pondel is a founding member and producer of the seminal acid-jazz group Jazzhole and
the 80s fusion band Uncle Festive. Pondel is also a member of Kombo, an organ/guitar-
based band whose first album The Big Blast debuted in the U.S., Europe and Japan in
1999. That album was followed by Cookin Out in 2001, also for GRP/Verve (Universal). A partial list of venues where he has performed includes: Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Albert Hall, The Blue Note, Ronnie Scotts, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, the Gershwin Theatre, Wembley Arena, the Hollywood Bowl, and Buddha Khan (Japan). Universal Amphitheatre.
17 Marble Ave.
Pleasantville , NY 10570
ph: 914-347-3470
rick