DIEGO ALONSO MUSIC

ABOUT DIEGO

FLAMENCO • CLASSICAL • PRACTICE STRATEGIES • THEORY

My Story

At 11 years old, for some reason, I thought it was a good idea to play brass instruments bigger and heavier than me in the school marching band. Six years later I switched to Metalica solos on a classical guitar — clearly, a much cooler choice.

In college, I took classical guitar lessons, and in my last year of undergrad, heard a Paco de Lucia album (and flamenco) for the first time in my life! I was hooked. Since that moment, I dedicated my musical life to flamenco and classical guitar (sprinkled with a bit of jazz).

In 2005, I started playing and teaching professionally, and over the years, have been fortunate to have collaborated with some amazing artists in the U.S and abroad (e.g., Miguel Vargas, Rocio Márquez, Alberto Sellés, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, IWU Collegiate Choir, Kinan Abou-Afach, and many others). I’ve performed more times than I can remember, have taught more than 23,000 private lessons to date, and have given lecture-recitals in over 300 educational institutions across the U.S. and abroad. I’ve even had the honor to appear on ABC, NBC, NPR, PBS, CBS, “Chicagoing,” RTVE (Spanish TV), and Actualidad (Spanish radio), all of which were amazing experiences!

Despite how much I love performing, as time went on, I found myself less drawn to the stage and more to teaching. Performing was wonderful, but teaching others to express themselves in the same art forms that I fell in love with eventually became equally as, if not more rewarding than performing.

My Educational Boost

My Educational Boost To date, I still enjoy learning from some of my favorite guitarists in both classical and flamenco guitar, and think it’s crucial to continue learning. So after years of playing and teaching, I decided to go back to school and attended the Fundación Cristina Heeren de Arte Flamenco (Seville, Spain) for 2 years, graduating with highest honors in flamenco guitar. I followed that up with a master’s degree in flamenco education and musicology (i.e., “Flamencología”) from the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain). This was my chance to “nerd out!” I focused my master’s thesis on analyzing and systematizing expert practice and performance strategies in flamenco guitar through scientific research and expert testimonials. ​ Yes, the gossip is true: I am a proud and publicly open science nerd with a strong interest in neuroscience and performance psychology. 🤓 That being the case, working on my thesis was tremendously enlightening for my practice, performance, and teaching. It inspired me to always use up-to-date science and my experience to make sure that what I teach is best for myself and my students.

My Top 5 Guitar Principles

Work smart, have fun, and be expressive.

Master the fundamentals first.

Minimize tension & maximize concentration.

Don't avoid mistakes; correct them.

Perfection doesn't exit.

My Favorite Subjects

I love teaching flamenco and classical guitar, practice and performance strategies, and music theory to serious hobbyists, music students, and professional musicians. My students include kids (11+) with busy school schedules, adults working 40-60 hours per week, retirees, high school music students, university music students, and professional musicians.

What I’ve found through teaching is that as long as you’re consistent with lessons, you’re never too busy to make progress. My busiest guitar students take one lesson a week and don’t practice at all. Despite that, they’re still making progress and enjoying the process! What?!

 

The simple reason is that they’re consistent, adhere to my teaching system, and follow my lesson recommendations. If you’re as busy as my busiest students and follow my recommendations, you’ll see progress too! If you happen to have more time, your progress will be accelerated. In either case, you’ll learn and improve at guitar, be challenged, and have fun along the way!

 

What guitar style would you like to tackle first?

FLAMENCO GUITAR
CLASSICAL GUITAR

Testimonials

Martin M. (M.A. Education, B.A. Jazz Guitar)

“Diego is a fantastic teacher and guitarist. He is generous, patient, encouraging, and effective. Diego has the ability to simplify difficult techniques and break them down in simple terms. He has given me the keys to succeed in this beautiful art form & I wholeheartedly recommend him!”

Marc A. (Online Lessons)

“I have had several good guitar instructors in the past, but Diego has impressed me the most. He meets you where you are and freely shares the wealth of knowledge he accumulated over his career. As a result, you advance quickly using the best techniques in the trade. He also has a positive supporting presence that leaves you feeling inspired after every session. I only wish I had started with Diego years ago.”

Kyle T. (Online Lessons)

“True professional. Diego is no doubt the highest quality instructor I’ve had the privilege of working with. I’ve played guitar for 25 years but had no experience with flamenco or classical. Diego breaks down the techniques in a way that is accurate and true, but still accessible and empowering. I now feel comfortable with the instrument and inspired and confident about my future with it.”

Aaron C. (Online Lesson)

“I appreciate Diego’s teaching and how he is able to catch the subtle things I am doing wrong over a webcam no less. His pedagogy sets a high standard for playing, but the lessons progress naturally and logically.”

Steve R. (In person Lessons)

“I’m a professional guitar player but never spent much time on classical guitar. Diego is a fantastic teacher, musician, and great guy. He is tweaking parts of my playing and practice habits that are making a big change in my technique and approach. Highly recommend him to anyone looking to study classical or flamenco!”

Rae D. (Online Lessons)

“Diego is an awesome teacher. His way of teaching is very unique and a different approach to teachers I have had in the past. He’s very supportive, upbeat, and inspires you to want to excel.”

Lorenz I. (Online Lessons)

“Incredible and detailed instruction cuts to the heart of the matter! Adjusts instruction to skill level and provides ample material to look at while at home. I wish I could give more than 5 stars.”

Jim D. (Online Lessons)

“I have been taking lessons from Diego for almost a year now and can say he is the best guitar instructor I have ever had. He gives so much more than any of the others. I really can’t say enough about how much I’m enjoying my lessons!”

Rick W. (Online Lessons)

“Diego is a top-notch instructor, both in person and online. He has a fantastic ability to impart mechanical skills while at the same time teaching musicality. He has kept my guitar-playing aspirations fully intact for over six years and I’ve enjoyed every interaction with him. I recommend him strongly to both beginning and experienced players.”

Maria C. (Online Lessons)

“Diego is an exceptional instructor!! He has helped my daughter learn to love music and to come out of her shell by expressing her feelings through music!”