Amelia Ortiz, a Texas-born musician raised in the Bay Area, discovered her passion for music at age 10, focusing on violin while expanding her musical journey to include guitar. With a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Saint Mary’s College of California, Amelia has studied both classical and contemporary guitar styles, receiving mentorship from Shaun Myatt, a highly accomplished musician with a Bachelor of Music degree from San Diego State University specializing in Jazz Performance. Shaun’s achievements include winning the Certificate of Outstanding Musicianship from the East Bay Jazz Music Festival twice, for guitar at age 19 and piano at 25. His extensive experience spans performing rock, jazz, blues, pop, metal, hip-hop, and folk, along with composing and leading jazz ensembles.

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Guided by Shaun, Amelia has dedicated years to mastering a range of genres, including jazz, rock, and classical guitar. Through her studies, she has performed pieces composed by Bach, such as Bourrée and Invention No. 13, showcasing her classical foundation. She has also ventured into Latin genres, including flamenco and tango, and explored rock music, drawing inspiration from artists like Eric Clapton. Her diverse performance background spans chamber and orchestra settings to small jazz ensembles.

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Amelia’s teaching philosophy centers on creating a positive and enriching experience where students can explore their individuality. She guides students through a structured yet flexible approach, including instrumental mastery and technique development, building a solid foundation in technique to help students achieve a high level of proficiency. She also emphasizes music theory and ear training, teaching students to recognize harmonic structures and develop strong aural skills.

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Additionally, Amelia encourages repertoire exploration, helping students discover and play music that resonates with them personally across genres. She values improvisation and creativity, encouraging students to create original music, express their musical voice, and understand the language of music theory. Amelia’s mission is to nurture each student’s unique musical identity, helping them grow as musicians and inspiring a lifelong love of music. She believes in empowering students to reach their full potential by fostering curiosity, encouraging creativity, and respecting each student’s individual background and aspirations.