Steve Cotter

Jazz / Classical / Finger Style / Blues / Brazilian

Bio

Steve Cotter is an active guitarist, jazz performer and educator based in Los Angeles. He received Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Music/Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas. Cotter excelled at the esteemed college playing in the One O'clock band and obtained a graduate teaching fellowship.

In 1997 he had made his home in Los Angeles and began three years of touring with Bobby Caldwell, traveling to Japan, Europe and throughout the U.S. He has also performed or recorded with such notables as Joey Defrancesco, Jimmy Smith, Steve Tyrell, Bette Midler, Lew Soloff, Lou Marini, Bennie Maupin, Roy McCurdy, Dave Pike, John Pisano, Bill Perkins, Dale Fielder, Jane Getz, Bob Maize, Ernie Watts, and Ramon Banda. Since 2005 to the present he has toured extensively with vocalist Steve Tyrell. In Los Angeles he is a member of the Luckman Jazz Orchestra and the Los Angeles Jazz Collective. He performs frequently around the Los Angeles area and has taught at Citrus College for the last 14 years. He continues to develop his instrumental abilities and artistry with the hopes to pass it on to his students.

Teaching Philosophy

"My teaching focuses on the students' development through the performance process. I focus on a method that instills technical mastery, efficient practice techniques and makes use of recordings and literature as models of competent performing standards. I give the student a well-rounded education based on my own success as a teacher and performing artist."