Online Guitar Teacher
David Melbye
Guitar, Electric Bass, Ukulele, & Voice Lessons
Online Only
Instruments
• Guitar
• Ukulele
• Voice
• Electric Bass
Education
• BA Equivalency Music Therapy, University of Minnesota, Mpls Mn
• BA Music History, St Olaf College, Northfield Mn
Skills & Specialized Training
• Live Performance
• Recording
• Songwriting and Arranging
• Vocal Harmony
• Music Theory
• Guitar (beginner to intermediate: folk, pop/rock, fingerpicking, alternate tunings, lead, rhythm, jazz)
• Additional instruments: Q chord, Reverie Harp, Native American Flute, Lap Dulcimer
• Left-handed player - if it’s good enough for Hendrix, McCartney and Ziggy Stardust…
Bio
David Melbye has been a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) since 2000. He served hospice patients for many years and currently practices privately in Red Wing, MN, where he returned in 2023 after spending several years in Bellingham. David is grateful to Nick Taylor and all of his Bellinghome School of Music colleagues, students, and families for the opportunity to teach multiple instruments at Bellinghome, and to continue to do so virtually after returning to his home state of Minnesota.
David is a classically trained solo and choral singer (tenor) but also greatly values his playing-by-ear skills gained from working with other musicians as well as listening incessantly to the radio and records from an early age. David has also appreciated his studies in jazz guitar with Reynold Philipsek of Minnesota and Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar with “Uncle” Harry Koizumi of Oahu.
David also writes, records and plays publicly as a singer and multi-instrumentalist. His arrangements have appeared on two Todd Rundgren tribute CDs as well as many CDs produced by his friend and music therapist colleague Carolyn Koebel.
His solo CDs may be found at:
https://davidmelbye.bandcamp.com/
His web site is www.davidmelbye.com.
David has presented at state, regional and national music therapy conferences on a variety of topics including hospice, guitar skills, the Q chord, the Reverie Harp and his work with multicultural clients and families.
Influences
Todd Rundgren/Utopia, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, The Beatles, Badfinger, Jimi Hendrix, Mahavishnu Orchestra/John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, Yes, Bobby McFerrin, The Nylons, David Bowie, Daryl Hall, Jeff Beck, Wishbone Ash, James Taylor, John Denver, Michael Johnson
Current Projects
Continuing work as a private practice music therapist
Continuing recording projects either solo or with Carolyn Koebel
Looking forward to playing live again – one day!
Discography
• Songs of Inspiration and Transformation (2020)
• Into the Light of Day (2016)
• In My Grandfather’s Day: The Music of Gerhard Theodore Alexis (2005)
• Visit www.davidmelbye.com for much more discography