Session Rate:

$ 35.00 per 30-minute session

Biography:

Teaching since the early 1980's, David Burk offers instruction on guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo and ukulele. With a focus on fundamentals and music theory, he helps guide capable students to quick results. Accepting students from age 5 all the way up to advanced senior adults, he employs a variety of learning techniques, always geared toward getting them to the point of making music as soon as possible. Foundational music-reading skills are encouraged in these lessons but equal emphasis is given to developing aural abilities - that is, the ability to understand what you are hearing and to be able to "play by ear". Students are always encouraged to think about specific, realistic goals for themselves and how those goals can be achieved.

David Burk has extensive experience as a presenter of music and cultural programs in educational and institutional settings. As a member of The Rose Ensemble's Educational Outreach Team, Karibuni, Cyril Paul and the Calypso Monarchs, and other such organizations, he has participated in multiple programs for various K-12 and university classrooms and assemblies throughout the United States. David has experience both performing and teaching traditional Hawaiian music with a group called Lau Hawaiian Collective.

Graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in International Relations, he has performed throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East with the Rose Ensemble, Voices of Sepharad, Robayat, Josh Nelson, Guvenc Burk Orchestra, Silver Swan Chamber Ensemble, Intergalactic Contemporary Ensemble, Georges Lammam Arabic Orchestra, Vanessa Paloma, Sattar, Ethnic Dance Theatre, BraSamba, Shangoya, Marimba Africa, Lorraine Klaasen, Keith Secola, Voice of Liberia, Saharan Nights, Fuego Flamenco, RaiAction, and The Melismatics, and numerous others. He has further performed with many acts who helped define the foundations of rock music, including the Drifters, the Coasters, Bo Diddley, Tommy Roe, Peter Noone, Spencer Davis, the Platters, the Marvellettes, Bo Diddley, Frankie Ford and numerous others.

In 2001, he was awarded a Jerome Travel and Study Grant to attend the Arabic Music Retreat at Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts, where he studied with Simon Shaheen, Dr. Ali Jihad Racy, Bassam Saba, and other prominent Arabic music luminaries. In 2002 he was able to further continue study of Arabic music with Bassam Saba when he received a Traditional Folks Arts grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. He has also taken workshops on Hawaiian slack key guitar with George Kahamoku and continues those studies.

Lastly, he has written instructional columns for Guitar Player magazine and www.truefire.com. He has composed or arranged music for Mixed Blood Theatre (Minneapolis) as well as numerous commercials, movies and television programs worldwide.