Xen's integrated approach is aimed at developing the full musician who can bring music to life. Lessons include exercises in sight-reading, playing by ear, theory and history appropriate to the style and the students own sensibilities.
Xen provides a safe learning environment for all students regardless of age, race, sex, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
RESOURCES for LESSONS:
Classical Guitar | Electric Bass | Music History | Music Theory & Ear Training
BIOGRAPHY
Xenia Sandstrom-McGuire teaches private students in Electric Bass,
Classical & 12-String Guitar, and Theory Ear Training, and History. Since moving to the Twin
Cities in 1993, Xen has been active as a session musician, historian,
music educator, and Liberal Arts Education advocate. She holds a Master of
Arts in Musicology from the University of Minnesota and B.A.’s in Philosophy
and Classical Languages from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Has
taught courses in Music History, Theory, World Music, and small group
ensembles at Augsburg College and the McNally-Smith College of Music.
Between 2004-2008 served as Musicologist and study guide author for the
Minnesota High School Music Listening Contest. Xen also serves as Acting-President, Treasurer and Webhost for the International Society of Hildegard von Bingen
Studies.
Xen is a lover of all music, having been engaged as an
active musician has a wide range of experiences both on stage, in the
studio, and in pit orchestras. As a bassist / vocalist Xen has graced
the stages of First Avenue, 7th Street, Fine Line, etc. one night, then
performing at Orchestra Hall as a chorister with the Minnesota Chorale the
next. In addition to being an on-call session musician, she has served as
the regular pit orchestra bassist with Ashland Productions in Maplewood
since 2002. Xen is the bassist for Shoop! the Twin Cities based 11-piece
Vocal jazz group;
Xen also routinely performs as the only non-Health
professional with the HCMC band, The New Prescriptions and stretches her theatrical abilities as the "Gene Simmons" for the 1974 KISS tribute band, KISSin
Time.
Outside of music, Xen loves camping (during all four seasons)
in the Minnesota State Parks. She is a Fencing Foil specialist and a
practicing black belt in Mixed Martial Arts under Master Jake Erling from
The Art Martial Arts in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. and lives in Como Park with two children, 2 cats and dog.
TEACHING
ALL Music is Folk Music; the only difference is the
folk...is my personal motto on music. What I mean by it is that all music is
valid music to someone. It is tied to cultural and personal values. For
instance, blues folk like blues music, opera folk like opera music, heavy
metal folk like heavy metal music. To dismiss someone's music as "not
worthy" can be and is often construed as dismissing that person and that
person’s cultural values. I find it better to seek and understand why
someone likes the music they do. It helps keep the doors of global and
generational communication open.
Private instruction: Electric Bass, my
primary concern is ensuring that students learn a sound ergonomic technique
which reduces risk of injury. For this I have developed a method focused on
the unique requirements of the electric bass with exercises designed to
facilitate fingering while maintaining good posture. Rather than launching
into "flashy technical riffs" my students learn early on the traditional
musical leadership role of the bass -- it provides the foundation of
Harmony, Beat and Rhythm--it is the singular focal point upon which all
musicians rely. In this sense the bassist is the conductor who is always
aware of the music and will assert direction when things go awry.
In
music improvisation, I expose students to diverse modes of improvisational
traditions as practiced by many cultures around the world as well as the
often neglected improvisational art from western Classical music. Students
are encouraged to adopt an attitude of fearlessness to experiment based upon
what they have learned and discover their own voice.
In general I
approach teaching Music as one of the traditional Seven Liberal Arts. I
help students overcome the peril of "functional fixedness" through active
and peer learning strategies. Rather than focusing solely on the memorization of facts and terms, my students (whether in class, ensemble or private study) use their senses to experience music--applying those terms to their subjective tastes as well as objective critical analysis in order to arrive at a well-considered conclusion. Students also develop the necessary skill of collaboration by discussing their diversity of perspectives and providing mature constructive feedback.
REVIEWS:
Xen is an excellent musician and teacher. He is incredibly thorough in
presenting material -- highlighting not only a technique, but historical
context, physical reasons why the technique is preferred, etc. Xen is
adept at adjusting to a variety of learning styles, and using multiple
approaches if at first a concept is not acclimated by a student. Add to this
that he makes learning fun, and is incredibly knowledgeable about many
different styles of music, and you have an outstanding music educator in
Xen McGuire
Joe Sullivan, Senior Development Officer - University of St. Thomas.
Joe worked directly with Xen at Ashland Productions and Shoop!
=-=
Xen is an extremely personable, well-liked, and intelligent musician
and teacher. He is able to deliver a well-rounded education regardless of
the specific subject he is teaching. When we worked together he was teaching
Musicology (classical and popular music/jazz) and was an excellent and
valuable committee member as we developed new degree programs at the McNally
Smith College of Music. I give Xen my highest recommendation
Mike Bogle, President at Musical Institute for Knowledge and Education
=-=
Xen is a devoted educator and a supportive colleague. His passion for
music in general and in the life and work of Hildegard von Bingen in
specific is impressive and inspirational. He has always been willing to
share his enthusiasms with his colleagues and music students at Augsburg.
His musical curiosity and ability to "connect the dots" from genre to
historical era is a gift to his students
Rick Penning, Voice Teacher & Singer, Augsburg College
=-=
As the instructor for The History of Western Music class at McNally Smith,
Xen McGuire displayed his knowledge and eagerness to teach the next
generation of musicians. He expertly combined a very difficult subject
matter with real world examples that helped his students to grasp the
different concepts in composing, orchestration, and music theory. While the
class required rigorous study it was also interesting and fun. I would
recommend Christian for any music history related teaching position.
Angela Hirsch - Realtor, Musician
=-=
Xen has given our children (now 11 and 14) guitar lessons for the past
three years, and I had the kids provide input for this recommendation. They
appreciate that Xen tailors lessons to fit the pace of their progress
rather than following a predetermined schedule. He explains the purpose of
the exercises that he has them do, always emphasizing that they are learning
to master the guitar rather than simply play a particular song. My husband
and I are impressed with their rapid progress.
Karen Ballen, parent
=-=
FEES:
$30/half hour | $45/45 min. | $60/60 min.
Visit the About header for more about Xen's teaching philosophy. For more about his expertise check out the links on this page.
Music History
Minnesota Music Listening Contest 2004-05 (rev. 2008-09), Author
Minnesota Music Listening Contest 2005-06, Author & Host
Minnesota Music Listening Contest 2007-08, Author & Host
Development of Medieval Polyphony
General Chart of Rounded Binary Forms
Electric Bass
Play Bass Now - daily activities and instruction hosted by Marlowe DK
Classical Guitar
Classical Guitar School - free music and method books
- The First Guitar Lessons - by Eythor Thorlaksson (the text is Icelandic, but still great)
- Guitar Method Book I - by Eythor Thorlaksson
How to Hold the Classical Guitar (VIDEO)
- Right Hand position for Classical Guitar (VIDEO)
- Right Hand - Rest Stoke and. Free Stoke (VIDEO)
- Left Hand Technique (VIDEO)
How to Re-String a Classical Guitar (VIDEO)
Classical Guitar Master Classes (VIDEO)
Classical Guitar Performances
John Williams - Vivaldi Concerto in D Major
Sharon Isbin (Minnesota Native) - Performances at the White House
Piano
Music Theory
BINGO - Hearing Chords through Ritornello Form
Aural Skills Training
Music Theory Online
Online Chromatic Tuner (Java app)
Non-Western Muisc
Vijaya Parrikar Library - Carnatic and Hindustani Music Library
Carnatica.net -
Maqam World - Music theory of Classical Arabic Music
OTHER LINKS
Composers
J.S. Bach
* Bach Cantatas Online* The Canons and Fugues of J.S. Bach
Nadia Boulanger.org
Francesca Caccini -
* Il Primo Libro della Musiche
* La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina
Aaron Copland Collection - LOC
Charles Mingus
Jean-Baptiste Lully Collection - UNT
W.A. Mozart
* Neue Mozart-Ausgabe - Complete works online
* Mozart Thematic Catalog - British Museum
Score Study and Manuscripts
Online Musical Scores to Download
Variations Prototype: Online Musical Scores
Virtual Rare Book Room - (esp. 18c French Opera)
Language
The Petrarchian Grotto - Petrarch
Your Dictionary.com - Online language resource
Other Links
Arabic Maqam World
Guidonian Hand-Flash required
The Blues - PBS
SynthMuseum.com - Your Vintage Synthesizer resource
Media
Minnesota Public Radio
Twin Cities Public Television
KFAI
KBEM - Jazz88fm
Student Resources
A History of Western Music
Concise History of Western Music
Listen 5th edition
Thompson & Wadsworth Publishing
GRAD 8101 - Teaching in Higher Ed.
* Study Tips on the Web
* How to read college texts
* The Logical Fallacies Index
* Evaluating Web Sites - Cornell
* Evaluating Web - UC Berkeley
* Turabian citation - UWO
* QuickStudy citation guide- UofMN
* The American Folklife Center
* The Virtual Orchestra Online
Publications, Journals, etc.A-R Editions Inc.
Arts at Informaworld
Chamber Music America
Radical Musicology
Transcultural Music Review
Venues and Organizations
Intermedia Arts -
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota ChoraleOne Voice Mixed Chorus
Rose Ensemble
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Vocal Essence
Professional Organizations
American Musicological Society
American Composers Forum
Society for Ethnomusicology
Iowa Scholarship for the Arts
Non-Western Muisc
Vijaya Parrikar Library - Carnatic and Hindustani Music Library
Carnatica.net -
Maqam World - Music theory of Classical Arabic Music
OTHER LINKS
Composers
J.S. Bach
* Bach Cantatas Online* The Canons and Fugues of J.S. Bach
Nadia Boulanger.org
Francesca Caccini -
* Il Primo Libro della Musiche
* La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina
Aaron Copland Collection - LOC
Charles Mingus
Jean-Baptiste Lully Collection - UNT
W.A. Mozart
* Neue Mozart-Ausgabe - Complete works online
* Mozart Thematic Catalog - British Museum
Score Study and Manuscripts
Online Musical Scores to Download
Variations Prototype: Online Musical Scores
Virtual Rare Book Room - (esp. 18c French Opera)
Language
The Petrarchian Grotto - Petrarch
Your Dictionary.com - Online language resource
Other Links
Arabic Maqam World
Guidonian Hand-Flash required
The Blues - PBS
SynthMuseum.com - Your Vintage Synthesizer resource
Media
Minnesota Public Radio
Twin Cities Public Television
KFAI
KBEM - Jazz88fm
Student Resources
A History of Western Music
Concise History of Western Music
Listen 5th edition
Thompson & Wadsworth Publishing
GRAD 8101 - Teaching in Higher Ed.
* Study Tips on the Web
* How to read college texts
* The Logical Fallacies Index
* Evaluating Web Sites - Cornell
* Evaluating Web - UC Berkeley
* Turabian citation - UWO
* QuickStudy citation guide- UofMN
* The American Folklife Center
* The Virtual Orchestra Online
Publications, Journals, etc.A-R Editions Inc.
Arts at Informaworld
Chamber Music America
Radical Musicology
Transcultural Music Review
Venues and Organizations
Intermedia Arts -
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota ChoraleOne Voice Mixed Chorus
Rose Ensemble
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Vocal Essence
Professional Organizations
American Musicological Society
American Composers Forum
Society for Ethnomusicology
Iowa Scholarship for the Arts
A few excerpts from Bruce Lee's posthumously published notebook The Tao of Jeet Kune Do
ReplyDelete"An artist's expression is his soul made apparent, his schooling, as well as his "cool" being exhibited. Behind every motion, the music of his soul is made visible. Otherwise, his motion is empty and empty motion is like an empty word - no meaning."
"Art is never decoration, embellishment; instead, it is work of enlightenment. Art, in other words, is a technique for acquiring liberty."
"The aim of art is not the one-sided promotion of spirit, soul and senses, but the opening of all human capacities - thought, feeling, will - to the life rhythm of the world of nature. So will the voiceless voice be heard and the self be brought into harmony with it."
Bruce Lee in The Tao of Jeet Kune Do. 1975