Luca
GuitarUkuleleBass GuitarDrums
About Luca
Luca is a professional guitarist, producer, songwriter and session musician and teaches both Guitar and Music Production. He believes that everyone is born with a unique musical voice and his teaching aims to explore and guide each student in finding their unique playing style.
Luca has been playing guitar for over 10 years and has worked with Grammy Award winning producer Doug Boehm, and Grammy nominated producer Billy Smiley. He produces and writes for Sleepy House, Matthew Grant, and Tarhea Ray, and has done session and live guitar work in Los Angeles, The Bay Area, and Nashville.
Luca has a B.A. in Music from UC Berkeley, where he studied Classical Theory as well as Jazz Theory & Improvisation. He teaches all age groups and levels in styles ranging from Rock, Funk, Country, to Jazz, Hip Hop and R&B.
Q&A with Luca
Which musician would you like to play with?
Derek Trucks
Which musician has influenced you the most?
Derek Trucks, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Oscar Peterson, John Scofield.
What can you teach me better on your instrument than any other teacher?
A musician once told me that music should be the marriage of proficiency and sentiment. I believe that I encourage a balance of the two with my students. I encourage my students to learn the fundamentals, but only in name of developing their voice as a musician and helping them reach total freedom in expressing musical ideas.
How did you learn to play your instrument?
I learned how to play by ear growing up. I lived in Topanga Canyon I was always around and fascinated by music. My musical journey started when I was lent a drum set at 5 years old. I later took piano lessons, and studied music more formally at UC Berkeley.
What equipment do you play on today?
Gibson ES-335, Nash Stratocaster, Fender Vintage Vibrolux, Martin SWOMGT.
Which personal trait helped you the most while practicing?
Determination and my love for music as well as being able to play with other musicians and feel free in my playing.
What does your instrument have that others don't?
Guitar allows you to bend notes, and a whammy bar is always fun!
How do you handle children?
I love working with kids. I believe that the most successful musicians are able to keep their childlike spirit and curiosity. My music lessons were a bit rigid growing up, so I try and give my younger students the introduction to music that I would have found exciting. I find that if I'm able to make the lessons fun and engaging, this will lead to more interest and musical growth.
What has been your greatest experience as a musician so far?
I was flown out to Nashville for a series of recording sessions and a radio tour.
What was the biggest stage you played on?
The Greek Theatre.
Which record would you take with you to the desert island?
Etta James- At Last!
Besides music, what else is important in your life?
I believe that friendships and relationships are the most important thing in life.
Music style(s)
FunkRockJazzHip HopR&B.
Level(s) Comfortable Teaching
Beginner to Advanced
What languages can you teach in?
EnglishItalian