Biography

CURT GOLDEN

Curt Golden is a guitarist and guitar instructor. He was born and raised in Virginia into a family that believed in a musical education, and he was given lessons in piano, violin, and cello. Curt first picked up the guitar at the age of 11, and it quickly became his life’s passion. After attending the Berklee College of Music, Curt played in a number of rock, blues, and jazz bands. In 1985, Curt took part in the first Guitar Craft seminar, presented by guitarist Robert Fripp. He went on to record and tour extensively with the League of Crafty Guitarists and the Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists, as well as providing instruction on Guitar Craft courses.

From 1987-97 Curt lived and worked in New York City. He worked as a finance consultant for EMI North America and its labels, as well as Sony and Arista. He taught guitar and performed with a number of groups including The Buttons and Desperate Measures. In 1994 he embarked on a recording project that yielded (scream), which became something of an underground sensation. In 2011, a remastered and extended version of (scream) was released.

Curt relocated to Seattle in late 1997. As part of the emerging Seattle Guitar Circle, in 2001 he co-founded Seattle Circle, the not-for-profit corporation created to support the group’s growing performance and educational efforts. He served as Executive Director from 2010-15. As one of the principle guitar instructors Curt has conducted hundreds of classes, and a number of residential seminars. In 2010, he joined with fellow guitarists Jaxie Binder and Greg Meredith to establish the Seattle Circle Guitar School, which for 5 years presented guitar classes for Elementary School children within the Seattle school system.

From 2002 to 2005 he was a member of the sextet, Atomic Chamber Ensemble. In 2004, Frank Sheldon, Curt, and Jaxie Binder joined together as the producers of a new performance entity, a location-based production of ensemble guitar music to be performed “in the round.” A group of guitarists quickly came together to realize this vision and from those efforts Tuning the Air was launched, presenting 225 weekly performances over a period of seven years. In December 2011, Tuning the Air was performed for the final time. Curt continues his work with the Seattle music community, exploring the possibilities of guitar-oriented ensemble work.

From 2009-2019 Curt was part of the Undercover Blues Band, a blues trio which performed in and around Seattle. In recent years he can be found sitting in with Urban Achievers whenever asked.

In his private practice, Curt teaches guitar out of his home in the Phinney/Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. He works with all ages, with a focus on the “how” of playing guitar, giving his students the tools and opportunities to discover their personal “what”. More about lessons can be found on the Guitar Instruction page.