February Student Spotlight: Dylan St. Pierre

February’s Student Spotlight is on guitarist Dylan St. Pierre. Dylan epitomizes a quiet cool that belies his powerful ability to SHRED on the guitar! A guitar student in the Digital Instrumental Music program at the Carver Center for Arts & Technology, Dylan actually started his musical journey on another instrument (keep reading to find out which one!).

At Stages, Dylan studies guitar with another awesome shredder – Paul Tokarz – who says of this incredibly talented teen:

“Dylan has been super receptive and passionate since day one! He has an incredible willingness to learn and create. He has a great sense of time and melody and is a wonderful improviser. He is an all around good guy and team player with a great love for jam band music and really has an ear and ability for the style, in addition to being a great songwriter!”

Read on to learn more about Dylan in his own words…

What is your instrument and why did you pick it?

Throughout my middle school years, I studied the violin, the instrument that I used to audition for the Digital Instrumental Music program at Carver Center High School. Early in my time at Carver, I decided to switch over to guitar playing, which I felt was a better fit for the structure of the program. I taught myself how to play using my dad’s old guitar throughout my freshman year, and soon began taking lessons at Stages.

Who is your teacher and what do you love about them?

Paul Tokarz is my teacher, an incredible guitarist with a similar taste in music to my own. He has given me such a foundational knowledge of the instrument, teaching me how to improvise and compose, as well as the music theory behind the instrument.

What kind of music do you like to listen to and play?

I am really into Phish, and I’d say that Trey Anastasio is my biggest inspiration as a guitarist. I also have recently been really into Parliament, Adrianne Lenker, and Frank Zappa.

What has been your greatest musical challenge?

The DIM program at Carver no longer allows us to take home our school devices that have music software on them, so I have had to use a worse quality software on my personal computer at home. However, practicing this has allowed me to become more fluent in the use of both softwares.

What’s your favorite thing about Stages?

I love when Stages hosts Jam Nights, an exciting opportunity for me to get together with other musicians and improvise together. I have found many memorable grooves playing with both friends and strangers at jam nights, and plan on continuing to attend them and keep finding new music.

What are your musical goals? What’s a non-musical goal you have?

My plan is to continue to study music in college – I have applied to many of the top music industry programs in the country, a degree I hope will help me be able to support myself financially and remain able to create music. I have always quietly had a passion for screenwriting, and hope to one day write a movie!

Tell us a fun or interesting fact about yourself not related to music.

I am the team captain of Carver’s varsity golf team, who went undefeated this year! I also represented Carver in the county and district tournaments, and won the Unsung Hero award for my performance in the 2023 season.

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Do you know a student who deserves to be recognized? Nominate them for our Stages Student Spotlight!