Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza introduces himself and the Jazz/Studio Guitar program at USC, and shares some of what he’s learned from his dual career as a guitarist and an educator – such as why getting out and meeting other musicians (and your heroes) is good for your career, how to overcome performance anxiety, how to nail an audition, and how to tell if you’re ready to commit to a four-year music program – and discusses some of the finer points of how jazz guitar is learned and taught in his department.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza offers advice to parents and prospective students who are considering attending a music school, with emphasis on how to know if you should consider other opportunities.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza makes a case for the importance of music education and why it must be more than just a fall-back career choice for aspiring working musicians, and observes the impact that a motivated music educator can have on a student or even on an entire school system.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza discusses the Los Angeles guitar scene, the major players who are active in the community, and a Tuesday night guitar series that is the nexus of it all.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza discusses his twenty-year relationship with one of his idols – jazz guitar great Joe Pass – and why seeking out and getting to know the musicians you revere can be a great way to keep yourself motivated and growing as a musician and a person.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza talks about two custom guitars he favors, and why a relationship with a luthier can be rewarding.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza discusses how he got started in both his career in performance and his career in education.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza describes one of his teaching techniques – encouraging his guitar students to think through a concept or technique as thought they need to show someone else how to do it – and why this process tends to make his students into better teachers and better guitarists.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza discusses the ways in which faculty and students in the Jazz Guitar department at Cal Arts are incorporating technology into the learning and evaluation process, and the new educational possibilities that arise as this happens.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza discusses the future of the Studio Jazz Guitar curriculum at the school, and the factors the faculty are weighing as they consider how to overhaul the program to better serve tomorrow’s students.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza discusses why it’s beneficial to your music career to cultivate an interest and ability in more than one style.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza discusses how he and his colleagues in the CalArts guitar department guide students to find a good balance between being a virtuoso in one style (e.g. jazz, country, flamenco) and being skilled in many.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza, shares the advice that he gives his students when they are struggling with performance anxiety.

Jazz guitarist and USC Thornton School of Music professor Frank Potenza offers tips to guitarists on acing an audition, either for a gig or for acceptance to a music school.