Nick G. TakeLessons Instructor music, guitar, composition, theory, ensembles, arranging, ESL, French Boston, MA

An experienced performer and award-winning composer, Nick has presented his music to audiences throughout the U.S. and Europe, including France, Germany and Spain.  

As a guitarist, he leads a cutting-edge jazz quintet which performs personal compositions and arrangements built on melodies that sing, harmonies that evoke many moods, forms that tell a story, and grooves that dance.  The group performs in the Boston area and is working on an album to be released in the fall of 2008.

As a composer, Nick creates works for both small and large jazz ensembles.  His pieces for jazz orchestra have received awards such as the 2008 ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award and 2007 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award for Best Extended Jazz Composition.  

They have been performed by the Crazy Big Band in Paris, France, the Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra in Boston, MA, Mac Jazz Big Band in St. Paul, MN and the Seacoast Big Band in NH.  He leads and conducts a Jazz Orchestra, his own big band which recently entered the studio this past May to record four of his pieces.

He received a Master of Music in Jazz Studies - Composition from the New England Conservatory of Boston (NEC) in May 2008 where he has studied with Jerry Bergonzi, Frank Carlberg, Allan Chase, Ken Schaphorst, and Brad Shepik.  He has participated in masterclasses with Bob Brookmeyer, Dave Holland, Jim McNeely and Ben Monder. 

Before coming to Boston, Nick attended the Edim School of Modern Music in Paris, France and earned his Bachelors Degree in Music from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.  When he is not performing or composing, Nick likes to cook and travel.

A positive, productive lesson atmosphere, with emphasis on songs, styles, improvisation, technique, and music theory.

Rock, blues, jazz, folk, some flamenco. Classical and jazz theory.

music, guitar, composition, theory, ensembles, arranging, ESL, French