Derek VanScoten
Guitar, Mandolin, Electric Bass, Tenor Banjo, Bouzouki, Ableton Live, DJ, Pro Tools
Park Slope
If you can make music part of your social life, then it won't go away.
Derek VanScoten is an up and coming string wizard, teacher and music producer in the New York City Music Scene. His private studio includes a dozen different types of electric and acoustic guitars, mandolins, a banjo, basses, and various amps and effects pedals. His fluid command of his recording equipment makes it easy for him to teach music production, or simply adjust the pitch and tempo of a song for the more "traditional" music lessons.
Derek's typical teaching day may include the following topics: bluegrass mandolin, rock guitar soloing, funky blues bass, acoustic fingerpicking, folk songwriting, music theory, and hip hop beat production.
From the budding childhood novice, to the 20-something aficionado, to the retired music hobbyist, I enjoy teaching students all ages, interests and levels.
While he is formally trained and has written out 10-week plans for college music courses, Derek also enjoys going with the flow of his students, learning new songs week to week, and maybe even changing direction in the blink of an eye.
He has degrees in both Guitar Performance (Classical and jazz) and Audio Production. That being said, he began teaching folk and rock guitar in 2000 at the University of Colorado. His role grew to include classes on mandolin, banjo, music production. and electric bass. By 2006 he was also teaching the Guitar Ensemble at Naropa University, and 20-30 private lessons a week at his home studio.
All the while, he found himself in demand as both a hired guitarist / mandolinist / bassist / producer, and / or DJ in the Colorado music scene. Highlights included national tours and performances at venues like Red Rocks in Colorado, Paradise Rock Club in Boston and Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. He has performed with dozens (if not hundreds) of groups including the world famous band Devotchka, and New York City based DJ Logic.
Get Started with BML to set up a lesson with Derek.
Any great rock guitarist / group, acoustic bands like the David Grisman Quintet and Solas, beat producers like The Roots and Flying Lotus, the beauty of classical music, the depth of jazz guitar, breathtaking song writing like James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and Sufjan Stevens, the groove and tone of any Motown or Staxx era artists, the attitude of punk rock, the sensation of group improvisation and the voice of my wife.
