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Interview with Rick Haydon by:  |
Artist Interview: Rick Haydon G.S.Who or what events inspired you to play the guitar and how old were you when you first began to play? R.H.At fourteen I saw The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show and just had to have a guitar. My parents bought me an Old Kraftsman guitar and amp set from the Spiegel catalog for my eighth grade graduation present. G.S.Describe your formal training. R.H.I studied guitar at a local music store in Alton, Illinois. My first teacher's name was Bill Schraeder. Bill turned me on to Les Paul and taught me his version of Mr. Sandman. At first, I played in various local rock bands, ripping stuff off from records with players like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix. M first formal guitar lessons were at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where I studied classical guitar with Dave Engleke, because at the time there was no jazz program. I left school for a short time to tour, but was able to study privately with Howard Roberts, Pat Martino, and Johnny Smith. I returned to SIUE in 1979, which by then had started a jazz program, and began studying under Brett Stamps. Brett had played with the Stan Kenton big band and I consider him one of the greatest trombone players around. He is an exceptional improviser and a great writer/arranger. I have also had the great pleasure of studying and performing with Bucky Pizzarelli. G.S.Is it possible to describe each teacher's contribution to your own approach to the guitar? R.H.With Johnny Smith, the technique studies were the same as those in Mel Bay's Complete Johnny Smith Method Book - primarily major/minor (melodic) scales in five positions and all keys, and two-octave major/minor arpeggios. He also promoted sightreading in actual pitch, reading both clefs as on the piano. Johnny also taught voice leading or chord melody arranging for plectrum guitar. He would play classical guitar pieces with a pick, and possessed incredible cross-picking technique! Howard Roberts taught me how to find tonal centers and improvise using major scales to outline various chords. Howard's explanation of modes is the same I use today in my own teaching. Most of what Howard used when I studied with him in the 70's was used early on at GIT, which he founded. Pat Martino had a great influence on my playing, so much that I named my son after him. Pat taught me his organization of chord inversions built on the diminished chord forms. This concept appeared in a 1977 book... I teach this same method at SIUE. He also taught me concepts he had learned from Dennis Sandole. It is an inspiration to be in the same room with Bucky Pizzarelli. Bucky got me playing the 7-string and I am so thankful he did. I have always enjoyed playing guitar, but the 7-string takes it to a whole new level. Bucky's best lesson was, "Less is truly more." It's not how much you play, but elegant placement of just the right number of notes. G.S.Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with in a recording or tour? R.H.I am currently performing with an organ trio and I want to do a CD project with them. I also perform in a duo with a fine clarinetist, Scott Alberici, with whom I would also like to record. Scott and I may be doing a concert in Hong Kong. I've also been talking with Bucky's son, John Pizzarelli, about recording a duo 7-string guitar CD. G.S.What keeps you interested in the music business or music education? R.H.Placing good music in the public ear keeps me interested in the music business. As long as there are students passionate about their music and great music in general, I will remain interested in music education. E-mail: rhaydon@siue.edu Web site: http://www.siue.edu/MUSIC/html/faculty/Haydon.html Download this article. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader Return to the top Copyright © 2000 Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
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