GUITAR & BASS & UKULELE
Tom Kitchen
Thomas Kitchen has been straddling musical genres ever since he picked up the guitar. While playing in the Virginia Tech Jazz Big Band conducted by Joe Kennedy, Jr., Thomas was belting out Bob Dylan covers in local dives at night. After finishing his undergrad with the Grammy-Award winning arranger Chip McNeil, Thomas moved to the pre-Katrina Crescent City to study jazz guitar with Steve Masakowski and Hank Mackey at the University of New Orleans. Then Thomas spent a four-year stint studying various classical guitar styles with world-renowned guitarist Berta Rojas. These days Thomas plays in the Thomas Kitchen + Friends Ensemble.
Tom Kitchen’s approach to teaching is student-centered and engages students’ higher-order thinking skills as they develop their musical literacy. Tom is a patient teacher who strives to understand his students’ learning styles so that he can communicate to his students in ways that they understand and learn.
For upcoming performances please visit tommytritone.com
Tom Kitchen’s approach to teaching is student-centered and engages students’ higher-order thinking skills as they develop their musical literacy. Tom is a patient teacher who strives to understand his students’ learning styles so that he can communicate to his students in ways that they understand and learn.
For upcoming performances please visit tommytritone.com
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz is the lead guitarist and primary composer for Billboard-charting heavy metal band A SOUND OF THUNDER. Josh has 18 years of guitar-playing experience, including studying music theory at the University of California at Davis, performing live in over 30 states from Virginia to California, and recording four full-length albums with an RIAA platinum-awarded producer. Josh's strengths include song-writing, improvisation, and music theory. Josh's lessons take a balanced approach, allowing students to learn to play their favorite songs, but also giving them the tools to create their own music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yetRJ9aAyvc
Josh Pittman
Josh Pittman is a music instructor, gigging musician, and member of the DMV’s musical community. After earning his master’s degree from Virginia Tech in 2013 in Muscle Physiology & Biochemistry, Josh took a u-turn with his career and became a full time musician. He spent years traveling the globe as a musician aboard cruise ships and in 2018, he moved back to northern Virginia to reinvest his time in the community that developed his musical ability.
Having worn the hats of a music director, showman, pit musician, cruise-ship bassist, and freelancer, Josh now brings thousands of hours of on-the-gig experience to his students. His engaging lessons prioritize knowledge of one’s instrument, knowledge of music theory, and awareness of one’s musical voice, in the context of a group and as a unique creative force. Josh equips his students with the tools to develop proper technique, good tone, feel, and an ability to make the most of every musical opportunity.
Josh is extremely active in the local music scene and plays with a wide range of musicians every week. Most weekends he is playing rock and pop with his cover band Bye Felicia (@byefeliciarocks), but throughout the week you can find him sitting in on various jam sessions throughout the DMV or acting as house bassist at the Gypsy Sally’s Jam in Georgetown.
Having worn the hats of a music director, showman, pit musician, cruise-ship bassist, and freelancer, Josh now brings thousands of hours of on-the-gig experience to his students. His engaging lessons prioritize knowledge of one’s instrument, knowledge of music theory, and awareness of one’s musical voice, in the context of a group and as a unique creative force. Josh equips his students with the tools to develop proper technique, good tone, feel, and an ability to make the most of every musical opportunity.
Josh is extremely active in the local music scene and plays with a wide range of musicians every week. Most weekends he is playing rock and pop with his cover band Bye Felicia (@byefeliciarocks), but throughout the week you can find him sitting in on various jam sessions throughout the DMV or acting as house bassist at the Gypsy Sally’s Jam in Georgetown.
