Tom Scharf, Guitar Teacher

About Tom

My mom used to play guitar and sing. As a little boy, I enjoyed singing with her. She passed away when I was young, and I picked up her guitar and began to take lessons. I had a teacher who gave me a Jim Croce album and a songbook, showed me some picking patterns and chord forms, and I was on my way. When I got older, I learned music theory to augment my understanding of music and improve my playing. It has been a great way to honor her and my love of music.

Music was a serious hobby for me until I made it a profession. I became the CEO of Swallow Hill Music in Denver (a music school and concert venue) and then became Chief Music Officer at Bohemian Foundation, running concert venues and music business incubators.

I have been responsible for producing over 300 concerts per year for over fifteen years for crowds from 100 to 10,000. I have also managed teachers giving music lessons to over 6,000 students per year. Our teaching framework was largely experiential (less theory) and covered piano, guitar, mandolin, violin, bass, harmonica, drums and more.

And now, I want to share that experience and all of my stories with you.

Tom Scharf Musician
Tom Scharf Red Rocks

Music
& Place

Place has such an important role in creativity. I’ve been in Colorado for decades, and the dry, high desert suits me, and my artistic sensibilities. I love being in nature, hiking, skiing, backpacking, river running, attending music festivals, and more. I’m inspired by this place and its people. The sun and the environment feed my creativity and connect me to a larger purpose. I believe it shows in my music, my painting, and my writing.

How I Got Here

After my spending my formative years in New Mexico, I went to college on the East Coast (Boston). When I graduated, I moved closer to my high desert roots in Colorado. I started an ad agency in Denver with my brother and conducted marketing campaigns for a wide array of businesses in Colorado. I continued to stay involved in music, taking lessons, forming bands, and playing at local venues.

After twenty years as a for-profit business owner, I was able to follow my passion into music as the CEO of Swallow Hill Music (and then Chief Music Officer at Bohemian Foundation). I have been one of the fortunate few to be able to make a living in music. In the past fifteen years, I’ve been performing, teaching, producing concerts, and enhancing the art scene in my local communities.

Here are musicians Steve Poltz and Tim Blum playing my song, “The Company He Keeps.” 

Tom Scharf and friends

I’ve been in a few bands, recorded four CDs (does anyone play CDs anymore?), played at many venues, and shared the stage with a few famous musicians.

My involvement with music has never been so much for the money and it has been for the love of this creative art form.

When it comes to you, the most important thing to know about me is that I’m smart, patient, sincere, supportive, and funny. And I want to share what I know about music with you! It’s my passion and I feel it’s a way to make the world a better place.