About me...
Doing the work of my dreams
In 2008 I decided to go full time with teaching music and gigging and it changed my life for the better. Music is a calling and I finally had to accept that I wouldn't be happy doing anything else day to day. I chose to call my business Studio Blue Guitar because my main instrument is a blue American Standard Stratocaster electric guitar. I love all guitars and play many different types including 12 string and even a cigar box guitar!
Time to share the love of music with as many people as I could!
Ready to Dive into the Music World?
Get to know Susan Peak...
Beginnings...
I started playing guitar by listening to music and figuring it out by ear. As time went on I wanted to know more and through school music programs I learned the basics. Joining the jazz band and chorus in high school helped with this and I eventually found my way into a few bands after school with my musician classmates. I found it exhilarating to play in a band! Exploring different genres of music led me to perform as an orchestra member in community theater musicals, which helped me land my first paying gig as a musican.
Wonderful Berklee College of Music!
The stars aligned and all my dreams came true when I was accepted at Berklee as a Guitar Performance major. I was rubbing elbows with students from around the world and enjoying the excitement and rich culture of college life and all the city of Boston (and Cambridge) had to offer. Learning happened everywhere, from the classroom to Symphony Hall to the jazz clubs of Inman Square! Many a Friday night was spent in the practice room trying to keep up and earn my spot among my fellow students. It was glorious!
Professional Music and Beyond...
My first professional job was playing guitar in "Man of La Mancha" at a well known theater in Florida during a break from college. I was fortunate to be a part of that production which included many well known stage and television actors (Liz Torres of Gilmore Girls fame was one of the stars in the show!).
From there, I went on to play in more musicals, bands, and duos in the Boston/New England area during and after my Berklee years. I also began teaching guitar privately on my days off from performing.
Bringing Music to Life
I currently perform solo in many settings and venues. One of my favorite places to play is at Bradley International Airport where I recently joined the roster of musicians who perform for travelers and staff there. I also love playing for seniors and for kids and I play a lot of music for people of all ages at public and private events.
Having resumed songwriting in the last 20 years, I perform a lot of originals along with well known songs I love. My musical tastes run the gamut so you might hear a Cole Porter composition in one setting and a John Mayer or Willie Nelson song in another. And since I am a fan of many genres, my originals fall into a lot of different categories, from rap to reggae to rock and beyond.
An added qualification...
After working in music for several years I decided to take a break and became an Occupational Therapy Assistant. I was fortunate to have jobs in well-known hospitals during my 10 years of practice, including Yale-New Haven Hospital and Gaylord Hospital.
Why am I mentioning this? Because O.T. practice requires an ability to teach and a knowledge of physiology and healthy movement. This extra knowledge has been useful in teaching guitar, since playing position (holding the guitar, position of wrist, fingers, etc.) has a lot to do with a student's success.
Enriching Lives Through Music
Studio Blue Guitar is a passionate venture dedicated to music and filled with Joy. My focus on performance, teaching, and songwriting creates a harmonious blend of musical offerings!
Some of my favorite guitar players? A partial list...
Mark Knopfler, Jack White, St. Vincent, Mike Campbell, Susanna Hoffs, Tom Morello, Prince, Nancy Wilson, John Mayer, Peter Mayer, Brian May, George Harrison, Nils Lofgren, Carlos Santana, Pat Metheny, The Edge, Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Shawn Persinger, Vicki Genfan, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Vicki Peterson, Warren Haynes, Joanna Connor, Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Willie Nelson.
Other favorite musicians and groups:
Tom Petty, Benmont Tench, Jon Batiste, Green Day, The Bangles, Diana Krall, Sheryl Crow, Alison Krauss, U2, Taylor Swift, Nick Drake, Aretha Franklin, Ann Wilson, Al Green, Jimmy Buffett, Nat King Cole, Angelique Kidjo, Esperanza Spalding, Yo Yo Ma, Maria Callas, Norah Jones, Mary J. Blige, Cheb Mami, Harry Connick Jr., Gloria Estefan, and Laurie Berkner.
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