Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio
F E A T U R E
Interview with Nicolas Sterner
F E A T U R E
Interview with Nicolas Sterner
How many instruments do you play? Which is your favorite?
Well, what I usually tell people is that the guitar is my primary instrument and the piano is my secondary instrument, but I can also get by on bass and drums. I’ve also been trained as a vocalist. But which is my favorite? Geez, well, I would probably have to say the guitar, simply because it’s the instrument that allows me to best express myself. Piano is a very close second, though. They are both wonderful instruments, with many intriguing similarities.
Where did you learn to play?
At age nine, I started taking guitar lessons from a Berklee grad named Nic Estrella, and stuck with him for a whole six years. I started studying music theory in high school, and continued that study for my freshman year at High Point University, in North Carolina. I also started taking piano lessons while I was attending High Point. For my sophomore year, I transferred to Westfield State University to pursue a Jazz Studies degree. It was at Westfield, under the tutelage of James Argiro, where I really solidified my understanding of music theory, improvisation, music history, and jazz repertoire. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I went on to pursue a master’s degree in Music Production from Berklee College of Music’s sister campus in Valencia, Spain. At Berklee, with Pablo Munguia as my advisor, I had an in-depth learning experience about all things related to music production: from studio engineering, to music composition, to audio editing, mixing, and mastering, and just about everything in between. It was the culmination of all of these resources that allowed me to get to where I’m at today. But trust me, there is still so much more to learn, understand, and master in the world of music.
What projects are you currently working on?
Right now, I’m in the middle of a jazz recording led by this amazing Oberlin pianist, Aaron Wonson. I am engineering the session, and also playing guitar in the quintet. I am also leading my own ensemble, called Chordboy, which is a quartet consisting of drums, bass, vibraphone, and guitar. We are actually in the process of solidifying two complete separate repertoires: our arrangements of jazz standards, and a consort of original songs that fall closer to the categories of funk/R&B. We’re available if you’d like to hire us for a private event!
Do you have any music I can check out? Any favorites?
Absolutely! My music is on all major streaming platforms. My more jazz-oriented songs are under my name, Lawrence Wood, and my funk-hip-hop-type productions are under the band name, Chordboy. I’m super happy with everything I’ve released, but if I had to pick a favorite, I guess I would say I’m most proud of The Chordboy Concerto for Guitar. Mostly because I had completed The Concerto for my “Culminating Experience” at Berklee Valencia, and so, I really nourished that project every step of the way, from start to finish.
Why did you become a teacher?
Well, I guess I’ve always sort of had the “teacher mindset.” Throughout my education, I have always been sharing my knowledge with my peers and mentoring my closest friends. Simply put, I enjoy bestowing information to people. Now I have the opportunity to put that habit to use. Additionally, I aspire to become a music professor at a university someday, and view private lessons as a great way to build up experience preparing me for that endeavor. But, with that said, I would consider myself more of a “player who can teach” than a “teacher who can play.” My primary goal is to pursue my own musical endeavors and aspirations, both as a musician and a producer. I just enjoy lifting others up with me as I move upwards in the musical world, and teaching music is the best way to do that.
Any other interests besides music?
Yeah, I’m a huge Sci/Fi nerd. I’ve seen every single episode of every single series in the Star Trek universe, as well as the Star Wars universe. But the real reason I’m a “Trekie” is because I’m also interested in philosophy, physics, and anything to do with outer-space. And besides for my nerdiness, I also played baseball, basketball, and football as a kid, and still follow the Red Sox, the Celtics, and the Patriots to this day!
To learn more about Lawrence, please visit his Teacher Page.
Well, what I usually tell people is that the guitar is my primary instrument and the piano is my secondary instrument, but I can also get by on bass and drums. I’ve also been trained as a vocalist. But which is my favorite? Geez, well, I would probably have to say the guitar, simply because it’s the instrument that allows me to best express myself. Piano is a very close second, though. They are both wonderful instruments, with many intriguing similarities.
Where did you learn to play?
At age nine, I started taking guitar lessons from a Berklee grad named Nic Estrella, and stuck with him for a whole six years. I started studying music theory in high school, and continued that study for my freshman year at High Point University, in North Carolina. I also started taking piano lessons while I was attending High Point. For my sophomore year, I transferred to Westfield State University to pursue a Jazz Studies degree. It was at Westfield, under the tutelage of James Argiro, where I really solidified my understanding of music theory, improvisation, music history, and jazz repertoire. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I went on to pursue a master’s degree in Music Production from Berklee College of Music’s sister campus in Valencia, Spain. At Berklee, with Pablo Munguia as my advisor, I had an in-depth learning experience about all things related to music production: from studio engineering, to music composition, to audio editing, mixing, and mastering, and just about everything in between. It was the culmination of all of these resources that allowed me to get to where I’m at today. But trust me, there is still so much more to learn, understand, and master in the world of music.
What projects are you currently working on?
Right now, I’m in the middle of a jazz recording led by this amazing Oberlin pianist, Aaron Wonson. I am engineering the session, and also playing guitar in the quintet. I am also leading my own ensemble, called Chordboy, which is a quartet consisting of drums, bass, vibraphone, and guitar. We are actually in the process of solidifying two complete separate repertoires: our arrangements of jazz standards, and a consort of original songs that fall closer to the categories of funk/R&B. We’re available if you’d like to hire us for a private event!
Do you have any music I can check out? Any favorites?
Absolutely! My music is on all major streaming platforms. My more jazz-oriented songs are under my name, Lawrence Wood, and my funk-hip-hop-type productions are under the band name, Chordboy. I’m super happy with everything I’ve released, but if I had to pick a favorite, I guess I would say I’m most proud of The Chordboy Concerto for Guitar. Mostly because I had completed The Concerto for my “Culminating Experience” at Berklee Valencia, and so, I really nourished that project every step of the way, from start to finish.
Why did you become a teacher?
Well, I guess I’ve always sort of had the “teacher mindset.” Throughout my education, I have always been sharing my knowledge with my peers and mentoring my closest friends. Simply put, I enjoy bestowing information to people. Now I have the opportunity to put that habit to use. Additionally, I aspire to become a music professor at a university someday, and view private lessons as a great way to build up experience preparing me for that endeavor. But, with that said, I would consider myself more of a “player who can teach” than a “teacher who can play.” My primary goal is to pursue my own musical endeavors and aspirations, both as a musician and a producer. I just enjoy lifting others up with me as I move upwards in the musical world, and teaching music is the best way to do that.
Any other interests besides music?
Yeah, I’m a huge Sci/Fi nerd. I’ve seen every single episode of every single series in the Star Trek universe, as well as the Star Wars universe. But the real reason I’m a “Trekie” is because I’m also interested in philosophy, physics, and anything to do with outer-space. And besides for my nerdiness, I also played baseball, basketball, and football as a kid, and still follow the Red Sox, the Celtics, and the Patriots to this day!
To learn more about Lawrence, please visit his Teacher Page.
