Dillon Young
Dillon Young has a unique, expressive voice on the guitar, rooted heavily in the blues. His playing draws from delta and electric blues, decades of jazz tradition, as well as influences of Zydeco, Classic Country and Rock, Neo-soul, Gospel, and Latin music.
Born in Louisiana, Dillon began learning alto saxophone at age 11 and piano at 14 before he finally picked up a guitar at the age of 15. He also enjoyed taking Music Theory classes throughout High School, an important foundation that allowed him to continue learning and teaching himself through the years. His love of music theory still informs his playing and teaching style to this day.
For the last 16 years, he has played in bands across the South. A highlight was the time he spent playing with Willie Jackson & the Tybee Blues Band in Savannah, GA for 5 years. This experience gave him the opportunity to learn from other players in the scene as well as playing with Jack Sherman (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Mac Arnold and his Plate Full of Blues Band.
He currently plays with Adrianne Blanks & The Oracles, performing in Asheville, across the WNC area, and touring, frequently passing through Chicago.
Lessons
Beginning students can expect to learn some of their favorite songs, along the way recognizing and practicing the basics of their instrument and it’s role in their favorite genres. They’ll also learn broader musical skills and concepts, intonation, keeping time, and improvising.
Dillon enjoys teaching beginner players the basics of their instruments, but also helping intermediate to advanced players break out of the “pentatonic box”, playing the changes, stylistic cliches, and adding color, digging in to create your unique voice and self-expression based on favorite genres, influences, and tastes.
A big part of this process is breaking down some of your favorite players’ vocabulary. Nuanced bends and slides, double-stops, phrasing and dynamics, and voice-leading.
How to make the most of simple, accessible scales while also exploring some basic music theory, giving players simple ways to access jazz harmony and color tones. Jazz-oriented students will also work on sight-reading. Guitarists can also learn his w to play slide in standard or open tunings.
Dillon’s approach of music as a language ensures that music theory is put into practice and the students’ ear is trained to pick up phrases and changes by ear, giving them the skills to play and improvise with others and to continue learning on their own.
