May 22, 2013

Nelson Mariscal

Location: Town and Country / West Hillsborough Avenue

Nelson began playing music at the age of seven.  He started with piano, drums, trombone and tuba in middle school and ventured into the guitar at age 13. After a year of learning by ear, Nelson auditioned and was accepted into Blake High School of the Arts in Tampa, FL and began his classical guitar training with esteemed educator John Michael Parris.  In 2004, Nelson won the Merit Recognition Award from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.

He moved on to study classical guitar at Florida State University’s College of Music under the direction of Professor Bruce Holzman.  While studying classical guitar, he also began exploring jazz composition with Joel Johnson and Leo Welch.  He played in jazz combos and with The Seminole Swing Machine Big Band.  In 2005, Nelson attended New York University’s Guitar Intensive Program to further explore jazz theory.  While there he received instruction from NYU Jazz Professor Bruce Arnold as well as Peter Bernstein, Jack Wilkins, Mimi Fox, and other jazz instructors/musicians brought in for additional Master Classes.

Nelson started teaching private lessons senior year in college at Mason’s School of Music in Tallahassee, FL.  In 2008, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and moved back to Tampa to continue his teaching.  Aside from teaching, he gigs with both the electric and classical guitar with original/wedding/corporate event bands.  When not playing in other groups, Nelson performs with his progressive funk/latin/jazz/rock band entitled Sound Spektrum, which focuses on original music as well as classic covers with a twist.  Nelson’s musical influences range from Francisco Tarrega, Andres Segovia, Dilermando Reis, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson.  Nelson teaches lessons for all ages that include a balance between music theory, technique, application for the guitar and will structure a lesson program for his students to get the most out of their learning experience.

Please register today or call to set up your lessons