Nikos

I recommend using the CD/Cassette as an indication of the
tempo to be achieved.

I did a quick search on the web as I felt sure there must be
a bio for Bill Leavitt, but was surprised to find none so
here a quick bio I put together:

William G Leavitt was born in MI around 1925-1930 and died
Framingham, MA in 1990.

His early career was in the US Coast guard but he was also
an excellent cartoonist and once considered having a career
as a commercial artist! (Parallels with Tal Farlow!)

In 1948 he went to Berklee College Of Music, Boston and was
the 3rd guitar student they had ever admitted. Graduating in
1951 he worked as an arranger and guitarist for many singers
including Ella Fitzgerald, Andy Williams and Patti Page. He
also co-authored Les Paul's and Mary Ford's tune " My Baby's
Coming Home".

In 1965 he was offered the position of Guitar Chairman at
Berklee and set about organizing the department and writing
the three volume "Modern Method For Guitar" and associated
books. Some of the material in the book was inspired and
contributed by fellow guitar educator Jack Peterson.

Many of today's guitarist studied with him and are indepted
to his tireless effort in (jazz) guitar education - John
Abercrombie, Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Leni Stern,
Mike Stern, and Steve Vai.

At the time of his death in 1990, after a stroke, he was
Berklee's Guitar Chairman.

Alisdair MacRae Birch
Guitarist/Educator/Arranger
http://www.alisdair.com

--- In jazz_guitar@y..., "skantzos1" <skantzos1@y...> wrote:
> I am working with Leavitt's method. What be a fair tempo for me to
> play a piece before I proceed to the next page?
> BTW, is there anything on the Web about Leavitt except for his
books?
> I mean, I know nothing about the man. Any recordings? A small bio
> would be nice.
>
> Cheers just now
>
> Nikos