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Alan Hume is a guitarist based out of Victoria, BC, Canada. As a performing artist, he is available to play at events and to support a variety of talent on stage and in the studio. As a private instructor, he helps students develop excellent, reliable technique and a rhythmic, expressive approach to playing. As a composer and arranger he creates works both in specific genres and fusions.
What's on this site?
- Home: This introductory page.
- Sounds: Details of the jukebox and music samples.
- Bio: A brief biography of his inspirations and experience as a musician and teacher.
- Instruction: Information about Alan as a guitar teacher.
- Contact: Get in touch with Alan.
- Listen: Show the jukebox, where you can hear tracks and clips from published and unreleased recordings.
Sounds
To begin listening to the music, click 'Listen' from any page to display the jukebox controls (in the bottom left corner of the screen) and press the play button. Stop, pause, change tracks, or adjust the volume on the jukebox, or click 'hide' to let it play in the background.
Track List
- “The Breeze” (Alan Hume)
Alan Hume on nylon-stringed guitar - “Riding South” (Alan Hume)
Alan Hume on nylon-stringed guitar; Doug Cox on Dobro
Published on CFUV's Full Dynamic Range - Untitled guitar demo (Alan Hume)
Recorded/engineered/mastered by Oren Thomas Fisher, May 2005
Alan Hume—electric guitar - “La Cancion del Emperador” (Luys de Narvaez, 1538)
Recorded live at The Alix Goolden Hall at Soundings Vocal Ensemble Concert, July 2002
Published on Soundings at the Alix Goolden Hall, July 2002
Alan Hume—nylon-stringed guitar - “Rivers of August” (Alan Hume)
Recorded by The Portobello Trio, August 2004
Alan Hume—Nylon String Guitar
James Whittall—Mandolin
Marty Rosen—Steel String Guitar - “Lone Mountain” excerpt (Alan Hume)
- “Manja” excerpt (Alan Hume)
- “Cheap Day” excerpt (Alan Hume)
- “As We Speak” excerpt (Alan Hume)
- “Ambivalence” excerpt (Alan Hume)
- “Summertime” excerpt 1 (Gershwin)
- “Summertime” excerpt 2 (Gershwin)
- “Raino” excerpt (Henderson)
All are used with the permission of their respective copyright holders. The jukebox program is XPFS Web Music Player.
Instruction
Alan Hume has nearly thirty years of experience teaching guitar, beginning with classes at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Now, as a private instructor, he teaches a wide variety of styles through lessons that are driven by students who are as diverse in their age, experience, confidence and skill levels, and musical interests as guitar music itself.
A typical lesson combines elements of work and play: work on technical mastery, and playing great songs. Fundamentals like rhythm and efficiency of movement foster improved control, speed, and precision - all vital to making consistent, great sounds. Learning and playing songs, chosen by the student, gives them a chance to practice their skills, get a feel for their favourite styles, and have fun. Alan's focus and enthusiasm for music and teaching promotes a positive learning environment for his students.
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Biography
Alan Hume began playing classical guitar as a pre-teen, inspired by Andrés Segovia's work. Studying with master Carl Lotsberg, he performed at music festivals and on Edmonton's CKUA Radio.
As a teenager, he witnessed guitarists like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page explore the fusion of rock, blues, and jazz music. Drawn to the rhythm and energy of their innovative styles, he began playing the electric guitar. He played rock and blues with various bands throughout the late 60s and early 70s, focusing on improv and composition.
He returned his attention to studies to the classical guitar in the 70s. He studied at the University of Calgary, UBC, and the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and took master classes from David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Jose Tomas, Alice Artzt and other prominent musicians. In 1977, he joined the faculty of the VCM as an instructor. There, he performed as a soloist and in ensembles with fellow faculty guitarist Dennis Olsen. In 1979, he left to teach privately.
In 1995 and 1996, he began branching out stylistically. His interest
in solo guitar composition and performance was renewed. He also began
working with island dobroist Doug Cox
and violinist Caridwen Irvine, who explored the fusion of
nylon-stringed guitar with dobro, making sophisticated backup
sounds for Celtic and Klezmer violin. He also arranged, composed, and recorded material for a CFUV sampler and various BC artists.
Together with Doug Cox, mandolin virtuoso John Reischman and bassist James Young, Alan arranged and recorded theme music for CBC DiscDrive. He also arranged and recorded the solo guitar theme used on CBC Radio. In January 1997, he joined Canadian musicians such as Randy Bachman, Colin James, Roy Forbes and many more in performing at the “Save the CBC!” concert in Vancouver.
During 2002 and 2003, Alan played at a number of concerts with Victoria's Gettin' Higher Choir and Soundings Vocal Ensemble. Under the leadership of Soundings' organizer Denis Donnelly, they played concerts with special guests including Nelly Furtado Choir and Quartet, Hermes String Quartet, and vocal soloist Kim Willoughby.
He also returned to playing the electric guitar, and continued to perform as a soloist, as a member of the Jake Galbraith Trio and the original music trio Portobello Trio. Meanwhile, he composed and performed the musical score for the documentary film Gitga'ata Spring Harvest. Produced by UVic and the BC Sierra Club, it highlights the teaching of Tsimishian elders Chief Johnny Clifton, his wife Helen and other native community members from Hartley Bay, BC.
Today, Alan continues to support artists at live performances, in studios, and through his continuing commitment to teaching and composing.
Contact
You can contact Alan by e-mail at alanhume52@hotmail.com or using the email form below.
