Teacher Spotlight: Ray Suhy

Ray Suhy has been teaching guitar for over 25 years. He attended Berklee College of Music and The New School Jazz Program and currently tours with Six Feet Under (Metal Blade Records) as well as the Ray Suhy-Lewis Porter Quartet (Sunnyside Records). He is a student favorite on Lessonface and this month’s Teacher Spotlight! We caught up with him via email:

1. What was the first instrument you played?

The first instrument I played was bass guitar in the school band. It was a beautiful Fender Jazz bass from the 60’s. I learned to read music and that was my first experience of making music with people. About 6 months later I picked up the guitar and that immediately felt like home to me.

2. Who are some of your musical influences?

Oh wow….everything under the sun! Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix & Black Sabbath were what I learned to play to. Dokken and Ratt were big for me in the 80’s. Albert King and B.B King got me hooked on blues. John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery and Mike Stern were the things that really got me into Jazz. Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell for the folk stuff….I could go on and on but I’ll stop!

3. What do you like most about teaching? How long have you been teaching guitar online

I really love helping people make breakthroughs in their playing and helping them play things they thought they could never play. I’ve been teaching online since 2014. I moved to a new area and started teaching students from back home. I stumbled upon the Lessonface site that year and have been teaching on here ever since.

4. Any advice for someone trying to learn guitar online?

Find a good teacher (there are many on Lessonface!) who you connect with, establish your goals and diligently practice the material that they give you. Oh, and be patient. Slow continuous progress will happen if you stick with it!

5. What is your favorite medium to perform in? Live, audio or video? Why? 

I really love playing live. There’s nothing like it especially when crowd and band are locked in and everyone’s having a great time.

6. Describe your favorite and least favorite part about being a musician.

Being a musician is just something I am so I don’t really think in terms of good and bad in relationship to this life. My teacher, the late Charlie Banacos always stressed doing music for music’s sake. Do that and the rest will take care of itself. He was right :)

7. What's next for you?

I have a couple of records hopefully coming out early next year. One with Six Feet Under and another jazz album with my quartet with Lewis Porter. I’m doing a short tour with my friends in Crystal Canyon in early November and then on Nov. 16th I’m playing in a tribute show to Joni Mitchell at the Vogel Theater in Red Bank, NJ.

Reviews:

“Great instructor, pinpointed the issues I had with my playing and provided detailed explanation on how to solve them. Thanks a lot Ray!”- Verified Student

“Ray was absolutely incredible! I’ve never had a better teacher. Awesome!!”- Verified Student

“A knowledgeable and professional instructor! Down to earth and very encouraging.”- Verified Student

If you’re interested in taking 1 on 1 or group classes with Ray, check out his Lessonface profile.