Guitarist, composer, teacher, and author with over 40 years of musical experience, Steve Girardi is the founder of River Guide Music.

As a teacher, and former adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University Steve is qualified in the areas of theory, composition, and advanced improvisation. He also has the unique distinction of being an authorized Sandole method instructor– an honor given to him by Maestro Dennis Sandole after years of extensive study. He has since guided students to be accepted into some of the finest colleges and universities in the country including New York University, Eastman College, Berklee College of Music, and the Peabody Institute and Conservatory. Moreover, many Girardi students have gone on to become accomplished musicians, including Mihali Savoulidis, J. Evan White, Richard Sheppard and CJ Colandrea.

As a performer, Steve can regularly be heard with his band “The River Guides” in any number of musical settings around the Jersey shore and New York metropolitan area.

As an equally impressive composer, Steve he has produced and released two critically acclaimed CD’s “Within Inside” and “Blue Sky with Tears.” Additionally, as a film composer his original music can be heard in two films by New Waves Productions.

He is the author of the book Vth Position “The Essential Guide to Guitar Sight-Reading”. https://store.bookbaby.com/book/vth-position

Educational Background: Dennis Sandole, Bill Walton, John Abercrombie, Berklee College of Music, Rowan University and Mannes College of Music.