Stuart Ziff

I've been and continue to be a working freelance musician in Los Angeles CA. My career started in Buffalo NY in the early 70's. From there I moved to NYC in 1978 to pursue a Freelance Career in the Music Business. I am a veteran of the Broadway and Off Broadway shows as a pit musician. I worked many hrs as a studio musician playing on Commercial, Music Publisher Demos, and Records. In 1990 I moved to Nashville where I began my writing career with songs cut by artists and I worked as a studio musician. From 2000 to Present day I've lived in Los Angeles working as a freelance guitarist and Teacher. I was the touring guitarist for WAR ( Low Rider, Why Can't we Be Friends) and since 2005 I've been on the Faculty of Musicians Institute as an instructor. I teach all styles including: Jazz, Blues, Rock, R&B and Funk Guitar. I have my Bachelors In Guitar from Berklee College of Music in Boston.

• Collaborated with band members to create innovative arrangements for popular songs, resulting in increased bookings and fan base growth.
• Learned new songs for performances and tour concerts.
• Applied knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm, and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest.
• Developed personalized guitar lesson plans for beginner and intermediate students, leading to improved playing skills and musical understanding.
• Practiced singing exercises and studied with vocal coaches to develop voice and rehearse for upcoming roles.
• Improved technical proficiency through regular private lessons with accomplished guitar instructors.
• Achieved desired tonal and harmonic balance by communicating clearly with musicians.
• Used printed text and musical notations to memorize musical selections and routines.
• Selected appropriate pieces to meet performance needs and showcase skills.
• Mentored aspiring musicians through workshops and masterclasses, fostering a strong sense of community within the local music scene.
• Composed and arranged music and recorded music in studios for radio, film, or television.
• Expanded performance repertoire with the continuous study of various musical styles, such as jazz, rock, classical, and blues.
• Maintained guitars and related equipment in good working order.
• Studied scores at length to learn music in detail and develop suitable interpretations.
• Promoted musical career by maintaining website or social media presence.
• Earned recognition in regional songwriting competitions by crafting memorable melodies, lyrics, and harmonic structures.
• Enhanced audience engagement by incorporating dynamic stage presence and advanced guitar techniques during performances.
• Practiced guitar chords and scales to maintain full proficiency with each piece of equipment.
• Interpreted and modified music to personalize performances.
• Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
• Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
• Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
• Exercised leadership capabilities by successfully motivating and inspiring others.
• Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
• Observed and adopted new techniques from skilled instructors and lecturers.
• Contributed to school-wide initiatives aimed at improving overall academic achievement and promoting a positive school culture.
• Assisted in curriculum development, ensuring alignment with state standards and best practices for effective instruction.
• Developed and clearly presented classroom rules, guidelines and objective
• As an Instructor at Musician's Institute I developed curriculum in Slide Guitar Studies, Advanced Blues Guitar and over saw the Blues Live Performance Workshop for 12 years and continue to this day.

As a song writer in Nashville from 1991 to 2000 I had songs recorded by artists. Most Notably my first cut was a song called " Thinking Problem" recorded by David Ball on Warner Bros records in 1993. The song rose to Number 1 on the charts and was my first cut as a writer. I had another song on that record called " Don't Think Twice" , I had songs cut by Johnny Addams and Bob Millard. I continued to be a studio musician in Nashville working as a guitarist / session contractor and Producer. I also functioned in the capacity of arranger for sessions and song writers. In 2005 after moving to LA and becoming a member of the faculty at Musician's Institute I taught Song Writing in the Independent Artist program. Covering all aspects of writing from Lyrics, to Music and Melody.