By Jennifer Silverstein
Local Brandon resident Todd Grubbs has taught hundreds of people to play guitar over the last 20 years and is now giving instruction in the Valrico area. Grubbs has been teaching since 1989, but has been playing guitar since he was 15.Grubbs can teach electric guitar, acoustic guitar and bass, as well as music theory for $100 a month for four or five half-an-hour lessons. He said he has taught children as young as 6 and adults as old as 60 to play the guitar. “I have ranged from beginners to advanced players looking to improve,” he said. Grubbs has released five full-length, instrumental CDs: Combination; Beautiful Device; Toddities; Time, Space and The Electric and Red Door, with one due out in the beginning of 2010 called Return of the Worm and another with his blues band in 2010, a total of seven albums. He really wants residents to know that, “Basically, I’m here and that I really enjoy teaching. I’m experienced, and I’ve been teaching since ’89.”Grubbs is nearing 50 students already, and in order to take lessons, you must have your own instrument. Grubbs can also help with where or how to buy an instrument as well. Francis Henderson, a FishHawk resident and student at Newsome High School, completed the Summer Rock School Program at the Patel Conservatory. At the finale concert, The Rock School Blowout, Henderson played lead/rhythm guitar in the band, Set in Stone, entertaining friends and family with such songs as “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osborne and “Tom Sawyer” by Rush. Henderson receives weekly, private instruction from Grubbs and expressed that Grubbs is knowledgeable about a wide variety of music styles and is extremely dedicated.In addition to teaching, Grubbs is learning how to video edit as well. He plays in a vocal band called 3 Green Windows in which he plays guitar; an instrumental band; and is in a duo with a piano player. His bands have played in such venues as Skippers Smokehouse and the Green Iguana in Ybor City. Grubbs, himself, owns more than 20 guitars, including two made by artist David Hervey. He lists his influences as John Coltrane, Steve Vai, Jeff Beck and Frank Zappa. Todd studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and locally at Hillsborough Community College. He was voted most outstanding guitarist at the Tampa Bay Music Awards. He has been featured in national publications including Guitar World, Guitar FPM and Guitar (Japan).With all this talent, Grubbs could be traveling the world recording and playing music. Instead, he decided to stay in the local Brandon area for his wife of 10 years and their two fraternal twin daughters, who are 5 years old and homeschooled. “I don’t want to travel anymore,” he said.Grubbs is available for lessons Monday- Saturday from 2-8:30 p.m. at 131 Kingsway Rd. in Brandon in the Grubbs Business Center. For more information, visit www.brandonguitar.com or www.toddgrubbs.com.
Caption: Local Guitar Teacher Todd Grubbs is currently looking for students.
You must be logged in to post a comment.