Tyler Dunnam was born and raised in Austin, Texas, a city whose vibrant music culture would prove irresistible. He began his sonic journey by taking piano lessons at the age of 9, but it was a tandem strum session on the guitar with his father that really lit his musical fire.
Just before starting high school, Tyler began rock guitar lessons with Mark Ellis, a local musician, teacher, and Southwest Texas State-University Music School graduate. Learning everything from strum patterns and blues improvisation to rock theory and the infamous Stairway to Heaven guitar solo, Tyler was well-equipped to entertain his friends and impress his family. He was also very fortunate to have a father and a brother who could both play guitar, bass and drums, a mother who could sing, and many neighbors and friends who were musically inclined. By his second year of guitar lessons, his garage had been adapted into a music room complete with guitars, drums, amps, microphones, and a piano. This became the setting for countless practices, performances, recordings, and band-formations.
By his fourth year of lessons, Tyler was practicing more frequently, performing at church regularly, and taking music more seriously as an art and as a potential career. With the help of his teacher, Tyler passed his first audition for the Texas State-University Music School Guitar Program, where in 2005 he began studying classical guitar with Prof. Mark Anthony Cruz, M.M. While a student at Texas State, Tyler experienced several facets of the classical music world, including a recording session in the historic Firestation Studio, Master classes with Alejandro Montiel and Duo Melis, and performances at the Guitars Galore Festival in Austin. His highest achievement was winning Second Place for Guitar Ensemble Performance at the UT-Brownsville/Texas Southmost College Guitar Festival with his Senior Guitar Quartet in 2009.
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Guitar Performance, Tyler is now pursuing a full music career in teaching, performing, and composing. He has taught friends, family, and San Marcos Elementary students. He has performed at weddings and various venues in Austin. He composes, however, behind closed doors.
His teaching style blends the practice and performance techniques of classical guitar with the raw “heart and soul” emotion of rock guitar. He believes music is about passion, hard work, and patience; but also joy, sharing, and creation. “Play the music, not the instrument.” -Anonymous
In his free time, Tyler enjoys reading, cooking, exercising, playing ultimate Frisbee and disc golf, listening to the radio, conversing about various subjects, and watching movies.