We recently connected with Nick Rhodes and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Nick thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I started learning guitar as a child from my father who is a classical guitarist. From there, I discovered the electric guitar and the possibilities it has in various bands and ensembles. once I was 18, I was accepted and completed a 3 year program at mohawk college for contemporary/ jazz guitar. It was during this time where my abilities on the guitar increased the most and I had the pleasure of studying under award wining musicians, even having the opportunity to perform with them numerous times.

I personally believe the only solid way to ” speed up” the learning process as a musician is to take concepts you are learning incredibly slow.

taking concepts you are learning slow until you have mastered them, as well as working on developing your ear so you can hear music more clearly and efficiently, are 2 of the most concrete foundations I’ve found have improved my playing the most. However, it’s something I am always still trying to improve!

I have had many obstacles in my musical journey, I don’t like to see them as something that’s holding me back. More just something that I have yet to achieve and will work towards to eventually do so.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

as I mentioned I was introduced to music and the guitar as a child from my father who was also a musician. It wasn’t long until I was playing the guitar regularly but it was actually on the drums that my career began and I was lucky enough to perform shows with musicians from the age of about 12. later on into my teens I got back into electric guitar specifically jazz guitar and have been playing ever since. I got into the music scene through starting to play gigs with my fellow students an also instructors at Mohawk college, ever since then I have developed a network spanning to major festivals, wedding bands, corporate events, singer songwriter duos and much more as a soloist and accompanist. As well as being a performer, I also have a teaching practice which I cherish and love. I believe the biggest form of learning music at a deep level is to spend time teaching it to other people who are having similar questions and dilemmas in their musical journey. I am constantly working on new music and have plans to release a debut project in the near future as well as continue to mentor students and preform. I am most proud of my ability to adapt to different musical styles while still maintaining my voice and a constant passion for music regardless of the genre.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

for me their are 3 things;

the practice; having to learn something you cannot play yet and then eventually performing it for people is an amazing feeling.

the performance, being able to stand on stage and perform Music for an audience is one of greatest experiences ever. I also take great pride in talking to people after shows and getting to meet/ know new people. it’s truly thrilling.

teaching- being able to see someone in the same boat I was at the same age and knowing they can achieve their goals and being that mentor to help reach their goals, is something I am really proud of.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

my goal is to release music into the world and eventually have a band of my own that shares the same goals and visions musically as I do. Currently I am hired mostly as a sideman for bands. So being a band leader is my biggest goal.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickrhodesguitar?igshid=MTNiYzNiMzkwZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nick.rhodes.5059
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@Nickrhodesguitar