CLINTON DAVIS
Clinton Davis is a multi-instrumentalist born and raised in northern Kentucky and currently living in San Diego, California. He has studied music his whole life and taken a wandering path through many styles. Clinton began with classical music, studying piano and earning a doctorate in music. Along the way, he explored the traditional music of his family home on stringed instruments like the banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin.
Clinton's wandering path between styles has given him a broad perspective on music that he tries to pass on to all his students. He has learned music in a lot of different ways - through musical notation, through music theory, by ear, by feel - and has found value in all of them. This is one of his greatest assets as a teacher: He can help you find a way of learning that serves both you and the music you want to play. The study of music has been one of the most enriching parts of his life - teaching him the value of hard work and discipline, the joy and satisfaction that comes from mastering a skill, and patience. Teaching is his opportunity to share that enrichment. It is a great reward to watch a student as they learn to identify and express their own musical ideas and tastes.
For years, Clinton played folk music mostly for his own enjoyment before building a performance career that has now included appearances at folk festivals across the country like the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival (Washington), Brooklyn Folk Festival, and the National Jug Band Jubilee (Kentucky). Still, nothing beats getting together to play with friends. That's why he teaches skills that will empower students to play with others.