Ryan Kinney

Ryan Kinney first picked up the guitar at age 13 and since then has performed in many parts of Canada, the USA, and Europe, in a wide variety of musical styles. While still in high school, Ryan studied the classical guitar and performed in alternative rock band The Gully Yodellers, sharing the stage with major artists such as Slaughter, Warrant, Vince Neil (Motley Crue), Dio, Vixen, and The Watchmen. Ryan went on to continue his classical guitar studies, first at Mohawk College, then at Brock University where he completed a Bachelor of Music degree with honours.  Concurrently Ryan was lead guitarist in technical death metal band Cadaveric, and shared stages with Misery Index and Canadian death metal legends Cryptopsy. In his studies Ryan specialized in modern and contemporary music, Baroque performance practice and Classical-era guitar music. Throughout his education, Ryan received instruction from some of the best guitarists and educators in the world including Eli Kassner, Hubert Kappel, Benjamin Verdery, Dale Kavanagh, and Frank Gerstmeier. 

After university, Ryan began to shift his focus toward improvised music and became an active member and co-organizer with the Toronto Improvisors Orchestra, performing alongside distinguished local artists such as Eugene Martynec (Bruce Cockburn, Lou Reed), Ambrose Pottie (Crash Vegas, Polka Dogs), and Glen Hall (Nexus, Roswell Rudd). Other improvised music projects include the Coin Operated Duo (with Michael Lynn) and AARC (with Ambrose Pottie, Colin James Gibson, and Rod Campbell). Ryan also spent two years in Belgium, where he earned a Masters degree in Cultural Studies at KU Leuven and studied the Renaissance lute with Floris De Rycker (Graindelavoix). Ryan teaches music of all styles on the guitar with focus on classical/fingerstyle, rock/metal and improvisation. Lessons in electric bass (beginner to advanced), Renaissance lute (beginner to intermediate), ukulele, music theory, harmony, counterpoint, composition and history.