J.J. Murphy
“Music, for me, has always been a place where anything is possible—a refuge, a magical world where anyone can go, where all kinds of people can come together, and anything can happen. We are limited only by our imaginations.”
About J.J.
J.J. began playing the trumpet in the 5th grade band, and his music teacher encouraged him to learn other instruments such as the baritone and trombone. By the time he reached 6th grade, he had developed a fascination with the guitar after discovering Pink Floyd. He then purchased a 20-song album called “Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues,” which featured artists such as Robert Johnson, Son House, B.B. King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. This record had a profound impact on J.J., and he has been playing the guitar ever since.
In 2014 J.J. received a Master’s degree in Commercial Guitar from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He has worked as a session musician in some of the best recording studios such as Ocean Way, Sound Emporium, RCA, Sony, and Southern Ground among others. JJ’s original music has been played on different stations including ESPN, VH1, and The History Channel. He has performed in 37 states across the United States with various projects including some of his own.
JJ fell in love with the creative environment and the variety of musicians and artists while touring in Colorado. As a result, he moved to Colorado Springs in 2019. JJ has professional endorsements for PickBoy Picks, Rocco Guitars, and The Rock Slide guitar slides.
JJ is world-renowned for his expertise in slide guitar and open tunings.
J.J.’s Instructional Approach
I believe in a goal-oriented approach to teaching that is based on my students’ unique aspirations with the instrument. I have worked with students at every age and experience level, from Pre-K to graduate school, and fellow professional musicians.
One of the best aspects of being involved with music is that there is never an end to the progress one can make; there is always something left to explore! A challenging aspect of learning an instrument can be knowing WHAT to practice.
As a teacher, I help my students put together a practice plan that will not only ensure progress toward their goals but also be fun!
Practice Tips
It is rewarding to work at something every day and to see progress! I encourage my students to record themselves playing and to listen back as objectively as possible. This is a great way to measure progress! Lately, I have been focusing on learning all the parts of a song, not just the guitar parts but EVERY instrument. This helps me understand all the moving pieces in music and what specifically the guitar’s role is in making the song work. Theory and ear training are a major aspect of my lessons!
Favorite Tunes
Blues: Mississippi Fred MacDowell, Derek Trucks, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan
Jazz: John Coltrane, Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Sonny Rollins
Rock: Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Animals as Leaders
Folk/Country: The Carter Family, The Louvin Brothers, Norman Blake, Tony Rice
B/Soul: Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, James Cleveland
