After all those years in North Park, San Diego, Walt moved a bit eastward - establishing a private music studio in La Mesa where he teaches today (March 2015).
If you've been doing the math, you will have realized that this San Diego native has been playing and teaching music in this area for over 50 years.
As a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, he has done studio work with many musicians in diverse genres.
Earlier work for television earned an Emmy for Walt and then-partner Vickie Cottle.
More recent television credits include train songs sung for a documentary originally commissioned by Disney.
One of his great musical delights was being part of the music ensemble for an Old Globe play directed by Jack O'Brien. Already a theater fan, he came to appreciate theater even more after experiencing it from the perspective of the stage.
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 repertoire includes hundreds of songs including western, train, folk, blues and swing tunes in lead and vocal harmony as well as a variety of styles of guitar, banjo and mandolin instrumentals.
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 appreciated hearing the information he shares, as well as having enjoyed the music.
Walt currently performs solo and with Trails & Rails, an acoustic duo or trio (depending on the format needed.) He has also played guitar, banjo, bass and mandolin with the 15-piece swing group, The Brass Key and Wind and The Soft Touch Banjo Ensemble, which he established in the mid-1990s. Another Walt Richards' group, Mandolin Madness had a wonderfully sucessful nine year run in the San Diego area.
All these groups, as well as Walt himself, have recorded their music. You can find the most recent CDs on the Store page.
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 have studied with him have been professionals on their own to start with - who are looking to expand their instrumental repertoires.
Walt is able to give beginner/intermediates the solid backup that leads to rapid 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, many groups have begun to perform in local venues.
Walt also offers performing workshops and informational and teaching workshops in banjo, guitar and mandolin as well as participatory workshops focusing on western songs and train songs, and harmony singing. Descriptions of sample workshops can be found on this website on the Programs/Workshop page.
Walt
enjoys giving the gift of music
- in
all
its many forms.
For the past thirty 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.
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)
for
lesson and group coaching information
WaltRichards@TrailsandRails.net
WaltRichards.com
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