A Bit About Me
RIK JONNA
2024
Birmingham MI
Rik is an experienced, professional guitarist, composer, and educator. He has played and performed for over 40 years, showcasing many elements of original compositions and teaching. As a Berklee College of Music graduate, he has used his talents to co-write with Grammy Award winning guitarist Earl Klugh, and most notably continued learning through Master Classes on a personal basis with his mentor and “big brother”, the late guitar legend Pat Martino.
Rik has composed over 50 original compositions. In 2021, Rik released a self-titled CD “RIK JONNA”. It consists of 11 original pieces which cross genres between jazz and classical music featuring guitar, piano, cello, and violin.
(rikjonna.com)
Rik has privately taught beginning thru advanced guitar in addition to theory and harmony. He was a staff instructor at Axis Music in Birmingham, Michigan and most recently Penny Lane Music Emporium in Fort Lauderdale Florida. He has a high level of proficiency in performing, reading, composing, and improvising, with significant teaching experience and vast knowledge of music styles and history including rock, pop, classical, jazz and blues. His greatest thrill as a teacher/ educator is to share the student’s excitement in the learning process and to ultimately witness consistent progress.
“While I assess and set reachable goals through a program that is centered around the music a particular student wants to learn, it is most important to me that each student finds the learning experience manageable, enjoyable and fun, while at the same time understands that dedication and practice is what leads to forward progress.”
For the intermediate thru advanced students, Rik provides a solid study of theory, and different approaches to solo improvisation, while encouraging self-expression and creativity throughout the entire learning process.
In the 90’s he owned and operated Hand-Picked GUITARS- International Dealer in Fine Instruments - one of the world’s largest high-end classical guitar dealers. At that time, he also studied classical guitar and its history.
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INSTRUMENTS
MIRABELLA, Cris – “CCT-1” Chambered Carved Top –Custom Electric
MIRABELLA, Cris - “Avantzato” Chambered solid-body – Custom Electric
BENEDETTO, Bob - “Pat Martino” Chambered solid-body – Custom Electric
WHITE, Andrew - “E Model” Sunburst w offset soundhole – Custom
HOLLER, Jim – Custom Classical
CUCCULELLI, Rodolfo – Custom Nylon Electric Cutaway
STRINGS
Elixer
E.015 B.017
GHS
G.022 D.032 A.042 E.052
AMPLIFICATION
Acoustic Image Clarus 2R
CABINETS
Raezer’s Edge Stealth 1 x 12
Mesa Boogie Thiele 1 x 12
Most Recently
2019-2023
