UPCOMING
performances
Dec 10, 2011 - Midwest Music Conservatory, St. Louis, MO (w/ pianist Richard Carr & friends)
Dec 11, 2011 - Unity At The Lake, Sunrise Beach, MO (w/ pianist Richard Carr)
Dec 13, 2011 - DI3 @ The Basement, Nashville, TN
Dec 16, 2011 - DI3 @ Wilbert's, Cleveland, OH
Dec 17, 2011 - DI3 @ Annabell's, Akron OH
Jan 13, 2012 - Commodore Grill, Nashville, TN - writers' round
Feb 10, 2012 - DI3 @ The Julep Room, Ocean Springs, MS
events
June 28-July 1, 2012 TSU Guitar Summit, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
Educational events will always be posted on this page. For a complete performance calendar, visit
Dave Isaacs on ReverbNation.
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Dave Isaacs on Music Starts Here.org
Indie Connect Workshop, August 16, 2009
Now booking workshops, clinics, and performances for fall and beyond here in Nashville and around the country, or take a lesson from anywhere in the world via Skype. Scroll down this page for a partial list of classes, and contact Dave to schedule a session.
Private Sessions
instrumental technique
chord vocabulary and harmony for songwriters
rhythm and groove
stage/movement coaching
practical theory and the Nashville Number System
repertoire development
effortless musicianship: Alexander Technique for singers and players
Clinics & workshops
(This a sampling of the courses and workshops I offer...please feel free to request other topics not listed here.)
Effortless Musicianship: the Tao of Guitar
Like a great athlete, a great instrumentalist makes what they do look effortless. Athletes learn to use their bodies efficiently and maximize their ability to perform, and we can do the same in ourapproach the guitar. Utilizing the natural design of the body and basic principles of physics - simple machines, leverage, and force - can eliminate technical blocks, maximize dynamic range and tone,and make your playing more efficient and fluid.
The Drummer In Your Right Hand: an acoustic rhythm workshop
An acoustic guitarist needs to be a great accompanist, and that means understanding how to drive a groove. And since the acoustic guitar is really a percussion instrument that can play notes and chords, approaching the guitar the way a drummer approaches a drum set can really bring your rhythm playing to life. If you're a songwriter, creating great grooves can be a source of inspiration in your writing. If you're a player, being a great accompanist will make you in great demand as a side player.
Harmonic Astronomy: how and why chords work together
You don't need to know music theory in depth to learn more about how chords fit together. It's easy to go beyond the basics when you understand the simple underlying concepts that theory is meant to explain. We'll also look at how to use the Nashville Number System to help train your ear and expand your chordal vocabulary.
Great Lead Guitar: more than flying fingers!
A great guitarist is more than a hot-shot gunslinger. Playing great lead guitar in a band means that you know how to step into the spotlight, make a bold statement, and seamlessly melt back into the group. That means that besides chops and attitude you need great ears, great tone, and the musical smarts to know when to wail and when to lay back.This is a hands-on workshop in which everyone will get to play while learning to play well together.
Don't Call It A "Cheater": everything you ever needed to know about using a capo.
Not only does a capo allow you to easily find the right vocal key for your song, it also opens up the entire neck and a new set of sonic possibilities. We'll explore how a basic knowledge of music theory and the Nashville Number System plus a handful of chord forms allows you to play in any key in multiple positions. We'll also look at how to use the capo to help create signature instrumental parts that help define the identity of your song.
The Nashville Number System
The Nashville Number System is a very efficient and easy-to-understand way to communicate a song to musicians, and is essential to know if you want to keep up on a Nashville stage or session. Using fundamentals of simple music theory to substitute numbers for chord names, the NNS expresses on paper the relationships BETWEEN chords that all good musicians hear and react to when they play.