Ben Geise – Guitar Instructor
Ben Geise is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh where he studied Jazz guitar with Joe Negri and improvisation with Dr. Nathan Davis. While at University Ben also studied music history, counterpoint, and big band arranging and participated in many masterclasses and workshops conducted by jazz legends. During Ben’s undergraduate studies, he was awarded the Mellon Jazz Scholarship.
Ben has been performing and teaching professionally since he was 18 years old. He has participated in hundreds of performances as a guitarist, bassist, or music director. Having participated in the music communities of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Austin Texas, Ben has a wide skill set and is well versed in the nuances of many musical styles including Jazz, Blues, Rock, Soul, Surf, Rockabilly and Western Swing. He plays electric and acoustic guitars, Electric bass, Lap-steel guitar, synthesizer, and programs drum machines. Ben has written songs, commercial music, jazz orchestra arrangements, and solo guitar arrangements. Ben has shared bills with Trombone Shorty, Boz Scaggs, and Joe Ely and played at theaters, clubs, and dance halls throughout the US.
In his 21-year teaching career, Ben has taught thousands of private lessons as well as many performance clinics and stylistic workshops. He has served as program director for an adult music program where he conducted theory lectures, performance workshops and musicianship classes.