Nicholas Rousseau

      Nicholas Rousseau is a Brooklyn based guitarist, composer, educator, and mixing engineer. As he found out in his teenage years, he has a passion for music and has since pursued multiple pathways and disciplines within the field. 

      As a guitarist and composer he seeks to bring thought provoking and emotionally compelling music to whomever he gets the pleasure of sharing with. Influenced by musicians from Wayne Shorter to Shai Maestro, The Beatles to Led Zeppelin, Foo Fighters to Circa Survive, he attempts to utilize every part of his musical upbringing and style into his compositions and improvisations. He attempts to fuse simple lyrical melodies above intricate harmonies with subtlety shifting rhythms. His ultimate goal is to make the intellectually sophisticated sound simple and accessible while still having an explorative, reaching nature. And most importantly, creating an emotional connection with the listener.

      As a mixing engineer, he always tries to bring the experience as a musician into every mix. He likens mixing music to the slowed down, and perfectionist version of finding a natural balance while playing with a band, and aims for what might be called hyper-realistic sound. 

As an educator, he believes that we all have our unique gifts to give to the world, and it's his job to be able to identify that and encourage it, delivering materials to help the student grow while developing their unique musical and personal voice. He is inspired by the fantastic musicians he's had the opportunities to play with, study with, and who have been so generous to share their precious knowledge, and is eager to pass down the knowledge he's acquired throughout the years. His background is in jazz, composition, and improvised music, but no matter who or what he's teaching, he like to get to know a student and their musical tastes first and foremost. In my experience, a student can grow the most when in an environment where they're encouraged, challenged, and in a realm of music that they are passionate about.

In May 2017, he acquired a Bachelors Degree in Jazz Performance from Florida International University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He currently is attending New York University, where he is pursuing his Masters of Music degree in Jazz Studies. In addition, he is an adjunct instructor of non-degree jazz guitar lessons at NYU. He has studied privately with musicians such as Alvaro Bermudez, Tom Lippincott, Gary Campbell, Eric Hofbauer, Ben Schwendener, Ari Hoenig, and Alex Sipiagin, Alan Ferber, and Chris Potter.