Mr. Ryan M. is a classically trained guitarist, pianist, and bassist with over two decades of experience in live performance with various groups such as zydeco ensembles, rock bands, and classical duets. He began studying piano at the age of five and became an avid guitar player at the age of twelve. Growing up in the heart of Louisiana, Mr. Ryan was influenced by the zydeco, blues, and jazz music, which were part of local culture. During high school, Mr. Ryan joined the gifted music program and the jazz band, which solidified his love of playing and performing. In addition to performing at the Festival International De Louisiane, Mr. Ryan was also able to explore and expand on these influences through the Zydeco Ensemble he participated in during college.
Mr. Ryan has a Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in media from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which allowed him to explore sound design, music theory, film scoring, and synthesis. His principal instructors were Dr. Jeffrey L. George for classical guitar, with Dr. Jonathan Kulp and Dr. Garth Alper as heads of the classical and jazz theory programs, respectively. Mr. Ryan’s favorite genres of music include rock, alternative hip hop, folk, jazz, and everything in between! Mr. Ryan’s love of music and learning has led him to become a teacher with future aspirations of becoming a music therapist. His primary teaching philosophy is meeting students wherever they are at, and using their preferred learning style to meet needs and achieve goals. Mr. Ryan wants to instill his love of music, performing, and learning in all of his students!