Home Experience	Background The Bliven family has a long tradition of music. The picture above is our grandfather's guitar class in the 1940's. My twin brother and I learned to play and sing at an early age from our Dad. Here is a recording of our Dad playing his dobro and singing the blues song, Cinncinatti-Lou. My brother and I have Masters of Music Degrees and have been teaching music for over 30 years in both private and class settings. My brother graduated from San Francisco Conservatory of Music studing guitar with Michael Lorimer. I designed and maintain his two websites devoted to guitar performance and instruction: GuitarMusicianship.com & GuitarAnthology.com We play and teach a wide variety of musical styles. Here is a Classical Guitar video I made of my brother in 1984. Here are some Jazz tunes we recently recorded together.
	Education   Master of Music, Western Washington University Standard Education Certificate, Western Washington University B.A. in Education, Western Washington University Teaching Experience 2007 - Present..... Private & Group Guitar Teacher  1988 - 2007..... Music Specialist, (Grades K-5) Teaching Areas: General & Instrumental Music Snoqualmie School District (Opstad Elementary) 1979 - 1988..... Music Teacher, (Grades 4-6) Teaching Areas: General Music, Band & Orchestra Moses Lake School District 1981 - 1985..... Guitar Teacher, (Adult Evening Class) Teaching Area: Guitar Big Bend Community College 1972 - 1977..... Band & Choir Director, (Grades 6-12) Teaching Areas: Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Choir, Guitar & Music Theory Meridian School District
	Special Honors & Highlights Nominated for State Teacher of the Year by staff and administration in Snoqualmie Valley School District. Recipient of the Excellence Award for Outstanding Teacher - Presented by North Central Educational Service District, 1988. Conductor for San Juan Music Educator's Junior High and Middle School Honor Band, 1982-83. Teacher of the Year Award - Meridian High School. Honor Roll - Western Washington University. Outstanding Musicianship Award and Scholarship Winner at Skagit Valley College, while studying privately with William Wohlmacher, who now teaches at Cal State University. Outstanding Musical Achievement Award - Mount Baker High School. Member of a jazz combo having the distinction of winning a regional collegiate jazz contest, resulting in an all-expense paid trip to the University of Illinois to participate in the American College Jazz Festival. Other members included: Dave Kiem - Trombone Dave McCrary - Trumpet/Flugelhorn Eric Schinske - Piano Dick Stensland - Drums Lead alto saxophone and soloist in the Western Washington University Jazz Band, under the direction of William D. Cole, having the distinction of winning a regional collegiate jazz contest, resulting in an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Selected to perform a duet with the famous jazz trumpeter, Clark Terry, in a jazz concert at Western Washington University. Composed a symphonic band composition that was performed by Western Washington University's Wind Ensemble while on tour and at Western. Composed a jazz band composition that was performed by Western Washington University's Jazz Band at a collegiate Jazz Festival.
	Email: music@guitarlessonz.com
	Phone: (425) 888-4205