Jack Grassel was once listed in Guitar Player magazine as one of the “top ten guitarists in America (you don’t know).”  In case you are one of those people who hasn’t yet heard of Jack let me be the first to introduce you to one of the best guitarists and guitar educators in the country. 

Having been based out of Milwaukee his entire life, Jack has made a name for himself as a first call studio and performing guitarist throughout the Midwest.  He was recorded over a dozen albums and written ten instructional books that range in topics from famous transcriptions to solo guitar to building technique.  As an educator Jack has served on faculty at the MilwaukeeArea Technical College and the Wisconsin Conservatory, while his list of private students is much too long to list.  If you haven’t heard Jack perform, live or on a recording, check out the video clips of him playing solo and duo on his homepage, you will become an instant fan.

Jack Grassel sat down with me this week to talk about his career as a teacher and performer and to give his unique approach to developing ones skills in these areas. 

MW: How did you get your start as a guitar teacher?

JG: I starting teaching bass guitar in a music store at the age of 14.  One day the store owner said if I taught guitar, I could recruit more students.  Since I didn’t have a guitar he sold me an old Harmony archtop for five bucks that the previous owner had painted orange with a paint brush.  Having never played guitar before, I bought Mel Bay’s book 1 and starting to teach myself the basics. 

MW: Did any of your teachers have an influence on your private teaching approach?      

JG: I didn't have good school teachers, so my teaching approach is based on what I would like to receive as a student.  I had one great college theory instructor, Ted Ashford, who wrote on the board the first day of class, “You don't have to learn this stuff, but someday you will have to compete with someone who did."  He was a jazz pianist, with a Doctorate from Julliard, who only taught at my school for one year before quitting to join a rock band.  He was the finest teacher I have ever encountered.  I was afraid to miss even one class during the entire year.  Each class was unique and mind blowing.  Everyone in that class turned out to be a powerful musical force.  I dropped out of college when I found out he wasn't going to return the next year.  I have always used Ted Ashford as a model for my teaching approach.  I asked him once, "Ted, how can I get gigs."  He said, "Jack, go home and practice."  I then practiced 16-17 hours a day for six months.  Then gigs started to appear and have continued on for the last forty years.  I just went over the 11,000 gig mark and am still playing up to five gigs every week. 

MW: You have written a number of instructional books and recently released an instructional DVD.  How did you approach these educational publications as compared to how you approach a private lesson?

JG: The books were written as things for me to practice.  When I began studying the guitar I found that there wasn't anything in print to help me get where I wanted to be as a guitarist.  In general, I’ve found that most guitarists aren't very original.  (John Coltrane didn't have a guitarist in his band because there wasn't one who could "hang.")  There aren't many books for advanced guitarists because there is more money in creating books for beginners.  I developed these teaching methods to help myself develop an original voice on the guitar.  I found it difficult to develop my own unique voice when practicing other people's materials.  Kind of like how saxophonist Sam Rivers practiced his own materials so he wouldn't sound like John Coltrane.  If I teach someone, the approach is unique to that student. I help them create their own practice materials, become themselves and achieve their own vision.