Alonso P.

Over the past 25 years, Alonso has taught a diverse range of styles at various facilities to people of all ages, personalities, and skill levels. He believes that no singular pedagogical approach is best for everyone, as each student is unique. As a result, he tailors his teaching approach to accommodate every individual. Believing application to be essential, he never teaches sight-reading, theory, or technique for its own sake, and instead always uses songs or pieces as a means for application of that sight-reading, theory, or technique. Not only does this approach facilitate the learning process, but it also fosters achievement and greater enjoyment of both the theory and technique, as well as the music. Alonso also tries to instill the principle that the reward is not merely in the achievement but also in progress and the learning process itself, thereby enriching the overall learning experience. Both personally and musically, he is an inspiring person and has been a mentor to many of his past students. He can relate and adapt to people of varying ages and personalities, and is very personable and patient. Several of his past students have gone on to become professional musicians. His ultimate goal with teaching is to inspire his students to motivate themselves.

Alonso has performed with several different bands, duos, and as a solo performer, spanning a wide range of styles that include rock, folk, blues, soul, jazz, funk, popular, classical, and flamenco. He has performed with the outfits Street Poets, Los Sonidos, and LB Collective, performing at various venues in Atlanta, Marietta, Carrollton, and Athens, including Smith’s Olde Bar, The Strand, and Vinyl. He has also performed flamenco/Latin guitar in and around the Atlanta area for many years with both the duo Los Sonidos, as well as solo at an array of different settings including art galleries, corporate functions, weddings, private parties, coffee houses, art galleries, and restaurants at venues such as the Iberian Pig, Saltyard, El Vinedo, as well as solo jazz guitar at Sun In My Belly restaurant.

In addition to teaching and performing, Alonso is also a composer. He has recorded and released three CDs of original music, blending styles that range from rock, Latin, flamenco, and funk to folk, singer-songwriter, jazz, classical, and ambient soundscapes. He continues to compose and record new material, expanding his diverse body of work.