If
you've been doing the math, you will have realized that Walt has been playing
and teaching music in the San Diego area for more than 40 years. As a multi-instrumentalist
and vocalist, he has worked with many diverse musical groups, doing studio work
and live theater (The Old Globe, Starlight), besides being a solo and group performer.
Earlier work for television earned an Emmy for Walt and partner Vickie Cottle.
His most recent television credits include train songs sung for a documentary
originally commissioned by Disney. A
Versatile Performer In
addition to his instrumental and arranging talents, his rich voice and harmonizing
ability make Walt an extremely versatile performer. His active vocal repertoire
includes hundreds of folk songs, with recent focus on trains, cowboys and historical
songs. Walt
is also a folklorist with a wealth of information on the history of his instruments
as well as on the evolution of various types of folk music. Audience members often
comment on how much they learned at his concerts, as well as having enjoyed the
music. Walt
currently performs solo and with Trails & Rails, an
acoustic duo/trio/"quatro" or even "cinco" group - depending
on the event and member availability. The repertoire includes western, train,
folk, blues and swing tunes in vocal harmony and as instrumentals. Walt
also plays guitar, banjo, bass or mandolin with the 15-piece swing group, The
Brass Key and Wind and performs on occasion with The
Soft Touch Banjo Ensemble, which he established in the mid-1990s.
Another Walt Richard's group, Mandolin Madness had a
wonderfully sucessful nine year run in the San Diego area. All
groups, as well as Walt himself, have CDs that you can find on the Store
page. Walt
and duo partner, Paula Strong, have also developed a well-received program, "The
Way West", that relates events in western history to the songs being played
and sung at the time. An
Experienced Instructor Walt
works mainly with adults who have always wanted to play - who used to play and
want to get back into it - who already play and want to improve - or who want
to learn another instrument. He has a very loyal following of long-time students
- and, a waiting list - probably because of his ability to identify the exact
area on which to focus to help each individual progress to ever higher levels.
Many of Walt's students are now professional musicians in their own right. And
some who study with him are professionals in their own right to start with.  |
For
the past twenty-five years Walt has offered a free, once a month,"Slo-Jam" workshop
in San Diego.This open-to-the-public event has been a big success, with steady
attendance and a solid core of repeat participants. During the evening, more or
less randomly assigned groups work up an arrangement of a song, which is then
presented during the last hour - in a very supportive atmosphere - to the other
participants
Walt's skill in working with a group this size, and his ability to play most of
the instruments people bring, keeps the Slo-Jam a popular event and a great learning
experience. Go
to slojam.com for meeting information. |
Walt is able
to give beginner/intermediates the solid backup that leads to development of their
self-confidence and musical success. To
make it possible for intermediate players to have a band experience, Walt also
works with small groups - helping each person learn how to be a positive contributor
to their own group's particular sound in taking breaks, playing backup, singing
harmonies and making arrangements. After working together for awhile, most groups
have begun to perform in local venues. As one of Walt's greatest pleasures is
seeing his students do well, he is happy to continue to offer assistance as they
venture into these solo and group performances. Walt
also offers performing workshops, informational and teaching workshops in banjo,
guitar and mandolin as well as participatory workshops focusing on western songs
and train songs, and harmony singing. Bay
area musician, Libby McLaren, perhaps summed it up best after watching him with
some of his students when she was in San Diego for a workshop. She referred to
Walt as "a
gold mine for those lucky enough to be in his musical sphere." (photo
by: Lillian Thurston)
www.waltrichards.com
for
lesson and group coaching information | 
