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Nick Mordal
I am a Central Minnesota guitarist that plays classical, rock, folk and jazz styles of music. I teach private lessons on guitar. I also make unique arrangements of great music to play on the guitar and compose original music of my own for various ensembles and solo instruments. I have performed in various rock bands since the mid 2000's. Since 2012 I have been honing my musical skills in just about every other type of ensemble including choirs. I was a Central Lutheran Choral Scholar for 5 years and had the opportunity to sing and accompany some very fine works during my time there. I have a deep understanding of music outside of the guitar.
I have a passion for learning and teaching great music of all kinds, from the counterpoint style of Bach, Mozart, and Billy Joel to the sonic orchestral adventures of Tchaikovsky, Brahms, and De Falla. Rhythmically based works from Talking Heads, Villa-Lobos, Tool. Improvisers like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Chick Corea and songwriters that paint imagery with poetic lyrics such as Tom Waits, Paul Simon, and Bob Dylan.
I appreciate when music speaks to convey a feeling. Some composers and artists have the edge over others when they turn their musical expression into storytelling. If the sound takes you on a journey the same way that film does, then I think it is worthwhile.
I grew up listening to rock music from the 60's to the 90's and I think there are some seriously great compositions from this time period. A few artists and bands that I think stand above the rest are Talking Heads, Billy Joel, Chick Corea, Queens of The Stone Age, Tom Waits, Tool, Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin, Guns N Roses, The Doors. The list goes on and on.
I think that the early days of the jazz ensemble has prevailed as the continuation of what classical music was before it. Film scoring is the most common way that we hear new orchestral works, but it functions as background music. Modern improvisation and rhythm is, I think, what moves most musicians these days.
This is my philosophy on music. I have spent years considering different styles and I love talking about the artform with others. In the end, I want to inspire others to discover how they can incorporate music into their life and enjoy a deeper understanding of it.
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