My name is Mike Fiorentino, and I have just opened Shoreline Guitar Studio in Madison, CT. I grew up in Madison, and received my early musical education in the public school system. After receiving my BA in Psychology at La Salle University, I toured the USA for the next 15 years performing with different musical groups, playing both violin and guitar. After settling down in California, I taught guitar and rock ensemble at the University of San Francisco for over 20 years, while also maintaining an active schedule performing and recording. I have helped hundreds of musicians develop their skills with intuitive lessons and exercises tailored to the student.
As a performer, I have played in many bands, and shared the stage with artists such as Imagine Dragons, Train, Blues Traveler, Camper Van Beethoven, and countless others. My most memorable musical experience was playing "Imagine" on my guitar for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 2003.
My teaching philosophy is that if you understand the instrument, you can play any style of music you choose. The more you dedicate yourself to learning the fretboard, the more freely you can express yourself musically.
Private instruction includes everything from basic chording to advanced theory and technique, with a focus on the mechanics of the instrument. Topics covered include rhythm and technique studies, chord and scale theory, chord progressions, songwriting, musicality and performance, and improvisation. These topics are studied at a rate commensurate with the studentʼs ability.