BIO
synopsis
philosophy
guitar
writing
education
Dr. Stig Mathisen is a guitarist and educator from Northern Norway. He has resided in Los Angeles for 15 years, working as the Chair of the Guitar Program (GIT) at Musicians Institute, in addition to being involved in numerous music related projects.
A passionate explorer and a relentless seeker of all knowledge pertaining to guitar, improvisation, composition, music history and music philosophy, he has been on a quest since his formative years to discover the inner mechanics and the deeper secrets of music.
An eclectic guitarist by nature, Stig is equally comfortable with rock, jazz and classical music, and has rubbed shoulders with numerous world-class musicians over the years, such as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Robben Ford, Lee Ritenour, Zakk Wylde, Peter Erskine, Stuart Hamm, Jonathan Mover, John Jorgenson and many others. He has also been a clinic holder at Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, John Petrucci and Paul Gilbert's guitar camps yearly since 2015, with participation at more guitar camps coming up in 2020 and beyond.
As an author, Stig has written core curriculum books for Musicians Institute, and has been a co-author on several books. These books are published through WBH Musicworks.
Stig has a Masters and a Doctoral degree in guitar performance from University of Southern California, where he graduated with numerous awards for outstanding achievements. He studied Classical guitar at Tromso University for over 6 years, and has worked extensively as a freelance guitarist and University lecturer in both Norway and in the US.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
2020-
Administrative Leader
Kongsbakken Gymnasium
Department of Music, Dance and Drama
Tromsø, Norway
2012-2019
Chair of the Guitar Program (GIT)
Musicians Institute
Hollywood, CA
2011-2012
GIT Instructor
Musicians Institute
Hollywood, CA
Responsibilities: Open Counseling, Private lessons, Single String Technique, Rhythm Section Workshop, Ear training and Harmony and Theory
2007-2011
T.A. position
University of Southern California (USC)
Thornton School of Music
Los Angeles, CA
Responsibilities: teaching private guitar students and guitar classes
1999-2006
Lecturer
UiT, The Arctic University of Norway
The Faculty of Fine Arts, The Music Conservatory
Tromsø, Norway
Responsibilities: Studio technology, studio maintenance
1998-2006
Lecturer
Kongsbakken College, Music Department
Tromsø, Norway
Responsibilities: Private guitar students
01
EDUCATION
2008-2011
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
University of Southern California (USC)
Thornton School of Music
Los Angeles, CA
Studio/Jazz Guitar Department
Major: Guitar Performance
Academic Field: Music Education
Minor Fields: Jazz Performance and Music Industry
2006-2008
Master of Music
University of Southern California (USC)
Thornton School of Music
Los Angeles, CA
Studio/Jazz Guitar Department
Major: Guitar Performance
2004
Encore Program
Musicians Institute/GIT
Hollywood, CA
2002-2003
Secondary Major (Bachelor)
UiT, The Arctic University of Norway
The Faculty of Fine Arts, The Music Conservatory
Tromsø, Norway
Qualifying exam fulfilling the requirements for a secondary major (Bachelor) in Electric Guitar
1999-2001
Postgraduate Course
UiT, The Arctic University of Norway
The Faculty of Fine Arts, The Music Conservatory
Tromsø, Norway
Master level Classical Guitar postgraduate course (most advanced course offered for instrumentalists)
1998-1999
Postgraduate Course
UiT, The Arctic University of Norway
The Faculty of Fine Arts, The Music Conservatory
Tromsø, Norway
Music Technology
1997-1998
Postgraduate Course
UiT, The Arctic University of Norway
The Faculty of Fine Arts, The Music Conservatory
Tromsø, Norway
Classical Accompaniment and Classical Guitar Performance
1994-1997
Bachelor of Music
UiT, The Arctic University of Norway
The Faculty of Fine Arts, The Music Conservatory
Tromsø, Norway
Major: Classical guitar
Academic Field: Music Education
1991-1994
Upper Secondary School
Alta Videregående Skole, Musikklinja
Alta, Norway
Major: Classical Guitar
STUDIES
Mike Stern | Russell Ferrante | Bob Mintzer |
Prof. Frank Potenza | Prof. Richard Smith |
Carl Verheyen | Vic Juris | Steve Trovato |
Bruce Forman | Pat Kelley | Prof. Tom Mason |
Dr. Sheila Woodward |
02
ACADEMIC AWARDS
2011
The Society of Pi Kappa Lambda Award
University of Southern California (USC)
Thornton School of Music
Los Angeles, CA
2011
Academic Award
Outstanding Academic Achievement
Office of International Services
University of Southern California USC)
Los Angeles, CA
2011
Studio Guitar Departmental Ensemble Award
University of Southern California (USC)
Thornton School of Music
Los Angeles, CA
2011
USC Academic Stipend
$5,000
2010
USC Academic Stipend
$10,000
2009
Studio Guitar Departmental Ensemble Award
University of Southern California (USC)
Thornton School of Music
Los Angeles, CA
2009
USC Academic Stipend
$10,000
2008
Studio Guitar Departmental Ensemble Award
University of Southern California (USC)
Thornton School of Music
Los Angeles, CA
2008
USC Academic Stipend
$10,000
2007
USC Academic Stipend
$10,000
2007
The Norway-America Associations Graduate Study & Research Scholarship ($5,000)
2006
The Norway-America Associations Graduate Study & Research Scholarship ($20,000)
2001
The Norwegian Jazz Association Talent Award
($2,000)
03
04
PROJECTS
2021
Member on a committee reviewing a submission from a Norwegian Colleges application to offer a Masters degree in popular music
2021
International Virtual Collegiate Guitar Ensemble Festival
Judge on an expert panel for the first international collegiate guitar ensemble festival, initiated by Richard Smith
2020-
Guitar Center
Westlake Village, California
Authoring curricular material for Guitar Center Education
2019
Guitar Center
Westlake Village, California
Consultant
Guitar Center Lesson Achievement Program
Produced 100+ pages of lesson guides for Guitar Center Education, the material is currently in use across all stores in the US among approximately 25,000 guitar students and 500 guitar instructors working for the chain store.
2019
Joe Satriani - Collaborative Masterclasses
Palm Springs, California
3 collaborative masterclasses over 3 days (each event 1.5 hours long). Promo videos were filmed in San Fransisco, California prior to the event.
2018
Steve Vai “Big Mama-Jama Jamathon
LiveHouse, Hollywood/California
53.5 hour music event, produced by Steve Vai and Stig Mathisen, with 100 performers
2015-
Clinic holder at numerous guitar events:
Steve Vai’s "Vai Academy" (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)
Joe Satriani’s "G4 Experience" (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)
Paul Gilbert’s "Great Guitar Escape" (2016)
John Petrucci’s “Guitar Universe" (2017, 2018, 2020)
Other clinic holders at these events include: Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson, Guthrie Govan, Al Di Meola, Zakk Wylde, Steve Morse, Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders), Phil Collen (Def Leppard), Warren Di Martini (Ratt), Neal Schon (Journey), Andy Timmons, Devin Townsend, Rick Nielson (Cheap Trick), Kiko Loureiro (Megadeth), Bumblefoot (Guns’N Roses), Lari Basilio, Tony MacAlpine, Rusty Cooley, Jon Finn (Berklee professor), Jason Richardson, Bruce Bouillet (Racer X), Andy James, Mike Mangini (Dream Theater), Stu Hamm, Bryan Beller, Marco Minneman, Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs) and others.
2018-
The Guitarmy
Guitar awareness initiative founded by Joel Hellman, Stig Mathisen and Ryan Singer, with the intentions of spreading the love of all things guitar and guitar playing to new generations
2015-2019
Collaboration between Scott Henderson and Stig Mathisen, developing and producing an extensive online class based on Scott’s playing style.
2016-2018
Collaboration between Oz Noy and Stig Mathisen, developing and producing an extensive online class based on Oz Noy's playing style.
2011-
Approximately 100 concerts performed in duo and band constellations with recording artist and USC professor Richard Smith. The duo toured in Australia in 2018 (clinics and concerts)
2015-
Guitar Town Festival
Copper Mountain, Colorado
Featured performer annually at the festival "Guitar Town" in Colorado, performing alongside some of the greatest guitarists in the world, such as Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Robben Ford, Lee Ritenour, John Jorgenson, etc
2011-2019
Soul Rising - Band
Band with original material that wrote, recorded and performed extensively in the Los Angeles area. Recorded and performed at some of the most prestigious venues in Los Angeles, such as The Troubadour, Whiskey a Go Go, The Viper Room, The Mint, Canyon Club, The Rose, Westlake Studios, Conway Studios, Revolver Studios, etc
2015
NAMM SHOW
Anaheim, California
Panel presentation: Todays Music Landscape
Today's music landscape has become increasingly dependent on technology, especially with millennial musicians. With these realities in mind, it is critical that manufacturers, dealers and music schools adapt their engagement approach, in order to to build real connections with our future musicians and industry leaders. This presentation will help you to seed tomorrow's music consumer through the use of custom branded educational content.
2014
APME CONFERENCE
(Association for Popular Music Education)
USC, Los Angeles, California.
Panel presentation:
The Synergistic Music Education Model
How combining a performance school with an industry school can prepare a student beyond their specific discipline, and how it creates a dynamic larger than the sum of its parts.
Today’s artist needs to wear many hats, as the single discipline model has come and gone. For example, a guitar player today needs to understand theory, notation, contracts, DAW's, gear, budgets, acoustics and anything else that will give him or her an edge in today's fast paced music world. By combining the strengths of a performance and industry school, students walk away with a more globalized perspective of their industry and a stronger understanding of the needs required to make it as a contemporary musician.
2011
MI Guitar Online Course
Authored more than 100 pages of curriculum plus filmed videos for MI’s Online School
2006-2009
iperform3d.com/Steve Trovato
Designing guitar lessons and filming 3D-instructional videos for a web-
based education company affiliated with Guitar Center.
2007-2010
Alcatrazz Reunion
Reunion of the legendary rock band Alcatrazz. The project included writing, producing and recording new material and performing live (under the name Ashdown)
1994-2006
Numerous Projects, Concerts, etc
Norway and the US