BIO
Get to Know Me
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 self-taught Metalica solos on a classical guitar — clearly, a much cooler choice.
In college, I studied classical guitar, and in my last year of undergrad, heard Paco de Lucia’s “Live in America” album (and flamenco) for the first time in my life! I was hooked. Since that moment, I dedicated my musical life to flamenco guitar (sprinkled with a bit of jazz and classical).
To date, I’ve performed professionally over 3,000 times in every setting from background music gigs to 1,000-seat theaters. Most of my professional performance career involved my 2 favorite things: 1) composing for flamenco and flamenco-jazz, and 2) performing in small ensembles. As I got older, I began noticing some shortcomings in my playing that had a lot to do with how I learned to play flamenco gutiar. And those shortcomings were so frustrating that I eventually ended up going back to school to figure out a system that could help me and students learn in the most effective way possible.
What Students are Saying
(M.A. Education • B.A. Jazz Guitar)
"I love guitar lessons with Diego!! He helped develop skills more effectively based on psychological research and years of experience."
Student
“I have had several good guitar instructors in the past, but Diego has impressed me the most. I only wish I had started with Diego years ago!”
Student
- 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 in music.
MY EDUCATIONAL BOOST
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
Years Of Experience
An Expert Teacher
MY FAVORITE SUBJECTS
I love teaching flamenco guitar, flamenco-jazz, theory, practice and performance strategies to 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!
Book a free call with me below to learn how you can work with me:
FLAMENCO GUITARISTS ONLY
“Diego has the ability to simplify difficult technique and break it down in simple terms. I wholeheartedly recommend him!”