Philip DeStefano guitarist

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09/02/10 ~   This fall I am offering two guitar classes through Loudoun County Adult Education: Beginner Guitar I and II. Registration has started and if there's enough interest, classes begin late September.

08/11/10 ~   This past winter I recorded a guitar instruction program for public access television (Reston, VA). I was the featured instructor for one episode of "Guitar Instruction" on Reston Community Television. The show is now available online here.

07/22/10 ~   In the winter of 2009, I attempted an abstract painting. My goal was something about how music seems to comes from nowhere, from the air. The result is the on the left and that hung on the bedroom wall for one year. You can't really see it, but there are little black music notes along the bottom right. By the winter of 2010, the painting had run it's course and frankly, wasn't really very good. I took it down, made changes, and it went back on the wall. Yesterday, while standing on the bed, I filled-in a little space between two eight notes. The winter 2010 version is on the right.

07/07/10 ~   A free CD to the first person that emails me telling me which one they would like. ~~ Also, the June video is up: click here.
Check back for a new video every month.

06/15/10 ~   I played another Cox Farm farm stand gig with local singer/songwriter Doug Sedgwick and then... that same night (June 5), another impromptu gig with the Cajun Experience House Band (see 05/25/10 news). Unfortunately, it was prom night in the area (meaning usual restaurant staff absent) and Bryan Crosswhite, (co-owner/manager at The Cajun Experience Restaurant and keyboardist/vocalist in the band), had to leave the stage to waiter and work in the kitchen - welcome to the life of a part-time musician. That left me, Mike on drums and Ron on bass. ~ I think we are back there July 3rd.

05/25/10 ~   The May video is up: click here.

05/06/10 ~   I have two impromptu gigs this weekend. On Saturday night, I play with the newly formed "Cajun House Band" (a soulful/bluesy trio, 8pm) at The Cajun Experience in Leesburg, Virginia. On Sunday (11:30am), I am with Doug Sedgwick at Cox Farm's Centreville Farm Stand.

04/18/10 ~   Things are a little saner lately. Moved some jobs around. Added some work at Cox Farm in Centreville (now that spring is here.) Performing less but studying/practicing more - some with a fellow-guitarist [Jeff] and an occasional traditional jazz standards jam with his bass and drummer friends.

03/27/10 ~   I played my last lunch gig at Potbelly Sandwich Works on March 22. That concludes 2.5 years of rotating about 90 songs, 2 hours at 3 locations a week. It was time to move on. Many "Thanks" to Potbelly for hiring musicians at so many locations. ~~~ Also, the March video has the new instrumental "39 Days 'til Spring" as the soundtrack.

03/12/10 ~   During the snow storms this past winter, I composed and recorded an instrumental: "39 Days 'til Spring". It is a home recording and you can hear it on the myspace site.

02/26/10 ~   While performing my weekly gig at Potbelly today, I met photographer Aileen Reilly. If you are looking for a photographer, you should stop by Aileen's website. There a lot of nice shots there, so take a look around and give her a call.

02/23/10 ~   I have been invited to appear on Reston Community Televison, Channel 28 (Reston, VA). Anthony Granata hosts a show on that station called Guitar Instruction and will be having guest instructors during this spring. The emphasis will be on learning and playing improvisation.

02/08/10 ~   A fellow-musician/friend of mine, Doug Sedgwick has created a video of himself performing his arrangement of my song "To Be Or Not To Be".      (That's the first time that has been done. Thanks Doug!)
You can see/hear the video here. And then, after that, be sure to check out Doug's music on myspace.com.

01/25/10 ~   My Beginner Guitar Class starts at Loudoun County Adult Education tomorrow night (at Freedom High School, South Riding). That's good; I enjoy teaching that class... but the Beginner Jazz Guitar class did not get enough students registering and so it was cancelled.

12/30/09 ~   We dodged the December 19th Virginia snow storm by leaving the area on the evening of December 18, only to get hit with it on Long Island, NY. Twenty-something inches. Dug our way out. Did the Christmas visits. Now back in Virginia and ready for 2010.

12/10/09 ~   About a month ago, I proposed a new Adult Education Class to Loudoun County Public Schools called "Beginner Jazz Guitar". I learned this week that the class was accepted and is being offered in the winter/spring semester. I am curious to see how many people register for it. ~~~ There's a new song on my myspace page. The recording is very basic, home-demo quality. The title is Against Mine.

11/18/09 ~   The Fall Festival has ended. Tomorrow night I teach my last class for Adult Ed Beginner Guitar. There's been more time for music lately. ~~~ Also, I have started working as a sub for Loudoun County Public Schools.

10/29/09 ~   I woke up to learn (via email/facebook) that DeStefano & McLeod are the "artists of the day" on Whole Wheat Radio today. That's great; that CD was released 10 years ago! If you like grass-roots indie music, then check out Whole Wheat Radio. ~~~ [Also, I am playing at Cox Farms Fall Festival, Centreville, VA. today 11am-1pm.]

10/10/09 ~   Today I am playing a wedding cocktail hour in Prince William Forest Park at 4pm. The temperature is in the upper 60s but, with some luck we can get 70 and a peak of sunshine for a couple hours. The weather predictions show some promise. ~~~ The Adult Education Guitar class is going well and the Fall Festival is in full swing. On the night of October 16, we open Fields of Fear.

09/19/09 ~   Back at Cox Farms Fall Festival for another year [this is my 3rd]. It's good to see some friends from last year and basically just good to be part of something like this, which runs until Nov 8. I'll be performing twice somewhere in the middle. At the same time, I have begun teaching "Beginner Guitar" for Loudoun County's Adult Ed program. It's a crazy time of year since I also juggle my Potbelly Sandwich Works lunch gigs and guitar students at the same time.

08/29/09 ~   I uploaded a new song to www.myspace.com. It is titled "If You Live". Listen to it by clicking here. Thanks.

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