About Richard Valadez
Ritch Valadez started playing guitar at age 8, first self taught and learning by ear and then by studying Jazz and Classical performance at the Chicago Academy for the Arts under Jason Patera and at the Chicago College for the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University under the direction of David Bloom, John McLean, and Paul Wertico.
Ritch has nearly 10 years of experience giving private individual and group lessons for guitar, bass, ukulele, and banjo. Being self taught his instruction style focuses on not only traditional jazz and classical repertoire and theory for fretted instruments, but also ear training using a students’ personal musical preferences; believing that the motivation to practice comes from playing what you love.
In addition to teaching Ritch has extensive experience performing, both solo and with group, in styles ranging from jazz and classical to rock, blues, bluegrass, and even Mokassa, contemporary worship music, and raqs baladi (Egyptian belly dance). While focusing on jazz and improv music he prides himself on being a jack of all trades and has worked with nationally touring theater group Baby Wants Candy, Dub Reggae outfit the Drastics, soul/R&B chantuese Kat Victoria and funk singer Lyle Miller.
