Samuel Berthoud

Which musician has influenced you the most?
Since a few years I’ve been completely nerdy about Dream Theater and their guitar player John Petrucci. The control that he has on the instrument is on another level. The complexity of writing and still being able to keep a musicality impress me at every listening session.

What can you teach me about your instruments different than any other teacher?
I can really focus on the technical aspect and how to train it. I’m always on a search of improvement with varied techniques and always wanting to learn new techniques! I’m also into extended range instrument, I’m mostly playing on seven strings guitar but recently got into eight strings and I play the six strings of course.

How did you learn to play your instrument?
I started wanting to pick the guitar because of Guitar Hero III… When I got it on the Wii as a child I couldn’t stop playing and wanting to get better on all the hard songs. That really pushed me to do the same on the real guitar haha.

How do you go about writing a song or composing a piece yourself?
I try to find some time in my practice to have a moment of pure flow of improvisation. It’s often at specific moments of the day that I can have this creative mind and then record those ideas and develop them later.

On what equipment do you play today?
I play almost exclusively on Strandberg guitars with a Quad Cortex as amp and effects. I’ve been drawn to those by players in the Progressiv genre and got completely hooked by the feeling of those instruments and the sound possibilities when combined with a Quad Cortex.

What personal trait has helped you when you practice the most?
The will to get better and faster is always in my mind and a complete obsession.

What does your instrument have that others don't?
The possibility to shred and look cool.

What you pay special attention to when you teach?
I want to really give the space for the creativity of the student, let them bring what motivates them and exchange about music. I also put a focus on safe practice and having a good position while playing.

How do you build up your music lessons?
Starting by warming up and stretching to really feel connected to your own body. Finding and working on something that motivates you and finish by having fun and jamming with the tools we are working on!

How do you approach children?
I guess I want to take a close approach to teaching to adults. I also understand that they need to get grasped a bit more than adults, so bringing them material that they really enjoy and work on songs that they listen to!

What was until now your greatest experience as a musician?
Having the opportunity to have played with Ben Lamar Gay at ZHdK. It was three days of placing each individuals of the band in the center of the room and giving them a space to express themselves and to just play and have fun together.

What was the largest stage that you've performed on?
With Fifi’s Spaceship at the JKF festival on the Barfüsserplatz stage! It was so much fun playing groovy music with that level of energy.

Which musician would you like to play with?
I would love to get the opportunity to play with Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater. He is such a big influence for me on the creative aspect in complex music. And I would love to just hear how he can sound in a room without a hundred mics.

Which record would you bring to a desert island?
For the nostalgia: City of Evil by Avenged Sevenfold.

On which stage do you prefer to perform?
I love playing in underground clubs. There’s a special energy in those places and you can grab the public really differently than on a big stage. But of course I would love to play in Hallenstadion once to see how it feels.

After music, what is important in your life?
I love arts and drawing inspirations from other art form than music. I also really love animals and can watch wildlife documentaries for hours!