I was born in Seattle in 1980 and have been playing the guitar since I was 10 years old. My mom taught me to play "Teach Your Children" by Crosby, Stills and Nash. That was my first lesson. I was fortunate, in a way, that grunge music was just becoming popular because that was music a 10 year old could learn easily. As a result of doing so, I felt connected to a musical community sooner than I might have if I'd started with something requiring more dedication and discernment. I spent those early years going to shows at the OK Hotel and the Velvet Elvis, listening to indie artists and feeling cooler than everyone my age, a feeling I soon outgrew when I attended Garfield High School and discovered jazz. It was then I began viewing music as a more of a craft or a language than a hobby or a lifestyle. I now have a master's degree in music and a job playing guitar all over the world on the cruise ships of Holland America Line. I am having a good time and learning a bit about the world and music while I'm at it. I still feel pretty cool.