Craig S Snyder is a teacher, performer, composer, arranger, product endorser, and advocate of instruction and guitar craft. Teaching positions include adjunct professor of jazz guitar and director of jazz/rock ensembles at Finger Lakes Community College (retired) and private instruction in a self-managed studio. Primary residence is in western/central New York State near Rochester, New York.
Music degrees/awards held:
- Finger Lakes Community College AA Music/Music recording
- Berklee College of Music Recipient of John Abercrombie Scholarship
- Empire State College BA Degree with Jazz Guitar Concentration
- Featured in Guitar Player magazine "Editor's Choice" column, Sept 2007.
Former positions include eleven years as instructor of guitar and ensembles at Hochstein School of Music and Dance and twenty years as instructor and instrument repair man at Northfield Music Studios; both are located in Rochester, New York.
Craig is equally proficient at guitar and electric bass, which is an advantage when creating arrangements for either original or classic jazz and jazz fusion compositions. Over a forty year career in the music industry, performances have ranged from solo jazz guitar to pit bands supporting a 125 piece choral ensemble. With various groups Craig has opened shows for Mike Stern, Leni Stern, Frank Gambale, Chris Poland, Tribal Tech, Joe Stump, Johnny Winter, the Outlaws, and more. Jazz guitarist/singer Leni Stern bestowed Craig with the name "Chops of Doom" following a co-billed show in Rochester.
The CS Trio has been featured many times at live performances and product endorsement clinics at the House of Guitars. Current endorsements include these fine products: Benson Custom Pickups, Kahler USA vibrato systems, Curt Mangan Strings, Peavey amplifiers, and Spectraflex cables.
In July of 2010 and 2011 Craig was enlisted as guitar faculty for the Eastern United States Music Camp held on the campus of prestigious Colgate University near Syracuse, New York. This international intensive music program included students from United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Korea, Scotland, and Columbia. The workshops, private instruction curriculum, and ensemble approach were all designed and implemented by Craig.
Whether performing with his own group, occupying the guitar chair for another group, or engaged in teaching lessons, Craig is passionately immersed in the art of music. "It is my privilege to teach and inspire the next generation of musicians and to emphasize the positive effect music has on our world".
Craig is equally proficient at guitar and electric bass, which is an advantage when creating arrangements for either original or classic jazz and jazz fusion compositions. Over a forty year career in the music industry, performances have ranged from solo jazz guitar to pit bands supporting a 125 piece choral ensemble. With various groups Craig has opened shows for Mike Stern, Leni Stern, Frank Gambale, Chris Poland, Tribal Tech, Joe Stump, Johnny Winter, the Outlaws, and more. Jazz guitarist/singer Leni Stern bestowed Craig with the name "Chops of Doom" following a co-billed show in Rochester.
The CS Trio has been featured many times at live performances and product endorsement clinics at the House of Guitars. Current endorsements include these fine products: Benson Custom Pickups, Kahler USA vibrato systems, Curt Mangan Strings, Peavey amplifiers, and Spectraflex cables.
In July of 2010 and 2011 Craig was enlisted as guitar faculty for the Eastern United States Music Camp held on the campus of prestigious Colgate University near Syracuse, New York. This international intensive music program included students from United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Korea, Scotland, and Columbia. The workshops, private instruction curriculum, and ensemble approach were all designed and implemented by Craig.
Whether performing with his own group, occupying the guitar chair for another group, or engaged in teaching lessons, Craig is passionately immersed in the art of music. "It is my privilege to teach and inspire the next generation of musicians and to emphasize the positive effect music has on our world".