Matthew Grasso is classical guitarist, composer, arranger, musical instrument innovator, and improviser who began playing guitar at age twelve. He performs on an extended 7-string guitar, 15-stringed tantrakari guitar, and an 18-note octave just intonation guitar. Matthew performs and lectures throughout Northern California. He was a featured soloist with many Symphony’s most notably the Auburn Symphony Chamber Players under the baton of the late Maestro Michael Goodwin. His recordings include nine CDs which include his own compositions, transcriptions and improvisational works. Currently, Matthew is on the faculty at Sacramento City College, American River College, California College of the Arts, Yuba College and he teaches privately. He has designed college courses in the area of North Indian and western music, and resides in Davis, California. Matthew's website: matthewgrasso.com Matthew Grasso is the high priest at the 7-string guitar church in Davis Matthew performs on an extended 7-string guitar, 15-stringed tantrakari guitar, and an 18-note octave just intonation guitar, and has worked with luthiers Greg Byers, Scott Richter, and Waylin Carpenter to design these instruments. In his quest for new guitar literature, Matthew has contributed to the classical guitar repertory by transcribing numerous works for solo extended 7-string guitar, including Barber's Adagio for Strings; Ravel's Mother Goose Suite; Rachmaninoff's Symphony no.2; Bach's Chaconne; and other works in the pop/jazz vocal genre. As a composer, Matthew has contributed works for solo guitar, guitar ensemble, chamber works for guitar and strings, women's choir, music in just intonation tuning, and a guitar concerto. As a founding member of Trio Seven, the group has established a distinctive sound in the classical guitar ensemble genre. The group performs on three extended 7-string guitars and presents the works of Debussy, Rachmanioff and many other composers leading to groundbreaking transcriptions never imagined on guitar. Matthew performs and lectures throughout Northern California. He was a featured soloist with many symphonies and most notably the Auburn Symphony Chamber Players under the baton of the late Maestro Michael Goodwin. His recordings include seven CDs and has published a few articles in the area of multi-string and microtonal guitars through various online publications. Currently Matthew is on the faculty at Sacramento City College, American River College, California College of the Arts, Yuba College and he teaches privately. Matthew's website can be found at: matthewgrasso.com

My approach to teaching is not a one size fits all philosophy. Every individual is unique with a certain set of potential talents that I help to harness and develop. I feel learning is never a race, but a unique path to one's inner growth. I have helped everyone from the serious music student striving for entrance into music colleges, to the amateur picking up music passionately late in life for healing purposes.

During a typical lesson, I make sure to balance the student's: emotional state, technique, personal goals, and overall musical potential. I find methods that will inspire the students to make music, and encourage them to find their own musical path that is uniquely them.