01- Hi Lupa! How´s everything? Thanks for this opportunity. We´d like to start by knowing how was your beginning with music and who induced you to play.
I started with guitar when I was 7, and by 13 I changed to electric guitar. I used to play rockwith many bands in many shows. I got into jazz when I was 19.There are no musicians in my family tree. But I´vealways kept my inspiration up. I studied a lot and it was easy to notice that was my one way street
02- Talking about your academic formation, who were your teachers and where did you study?
I studied in São Paulo with Pollaco, I was 19. After that in Los Angeles with Scott Henderson, Steve Cardenas and Joe Diorio. When I went to Berklee by the age of 22 I got a hundred of excellent teachers...I can mention Hal Crook, Bruce Bartlett, Mick Goodrick e Jammie Haddad to start with...
03- You´re professor and coordinator at the famous Souza Lima Music School and vice director of the Souza Lima College. How does it work there and which area exactly you work?
I deal with the teachers work, all the subjects of the school. Talk to students´ parents as well.It seems to be bureaucratic, but it´s just music, mainly when it´s about the teachers and thesubjects. At Souza Lima College for example we are always analyzing new ideas, discussing how toimprove steadily and keep updated with teaching in Europe and USA.
04-Nowadays, what´s the greatest reason for one to choose Music at University, mainly at Souza Lima?
Musicians have become Professional. The quality has been higher and higher and there´s no way to follow a career without higher education. All the colleges have gotten a great number of graduated musicians with high quality and wide knowledge...some have looked for Master or PhD. All of them playing very well. And it does not assure Professional success, but the one who does not have Higher qualification course, tend to get less important jobs, aside the profession.
05-How do you see the way of teaching and methodology of work in schools?
They must keep updated. Beside academic subjects grade the teachers are for music: composers, arrangers and improvisers. There´s no way to separate these abilities. The ideaof self learning is too out of date. I get worried when people say they´ve been through it
06- You have already played with national and international musicians. What was this experience like?
They were great experiences...always learning a lot...that´s why I study everyday! For playing with great musicians, get to make the great sound . This year I had the opportunity to record and make shows in the USA with Jerry Bergonzy and Billy Pierce (sax player of Art Blakey and Tony Williams), it was amazing! It´s true music in a deep level. In Brazil I had the opportunity of playing and recording with famous people of the history of our music: Bob Wyat, Nenê, Sizão Machado among others and I keep learning a lot with them. They are real musicians. I say so because I´ve seen many young guys looking for sponsors and their pictures on magazines instead of getting good sound...some of them have never made a show and want to show off.
Magazines of music are a great way of spreading news, but there are some students of music who have understood it wrong. Music is in the live show...let the magazines make comments about your results. Don´t try to become news before working hard.
07- Thanks a million for your attention. We´d like to have your conclusions and please leave a message to Guitar Clinic´s visitors.
Check my web site www.lupasantiago.com. You can see my schedule there. Come for the shows. Study and play with your bands/groups. Do not get playing alone at home.