About.
Stan Shelnutt has been a lover of music since childhood.
His love of music began as a young child where began teaching himself how to read music at his grandparents piano. He also started learning note names and the keys of the piano.
In middle school, Stan began learning the trombone. In his second year of playing, the jazz band needed a bass player, and he convinced his parents to buy him a bass guitar. Stan began playing with the jazz band.
Around this time Stan also borrowed a Bari-sax from school and learned how to play, earning an Excellent award for a bari-sax solo.
Stan started jamming with his good friend on bass, but soon found that bass could only go so far. Around the age of 12, Stan picked up his first guitar and started learning some chords. It would be the start of a relationship that has stood the test of time.
Stan was always pushing himself to learn more on the guitar. He would write riffs that he could not easily play just so he could take the time to learn them. His interest in music theory also led him to write for two guitars, often playing harmonies with each other. He played in a few punk bands until the age of 20 when he moved to South Dakota.
Stan had taken lessons as a high schooler and his teacher taught him the basics of fingerpicking. He played blues, jazz, bluegrass, and ragtime.
In college Stan would begin to study classical guitar. An interest that persists to this day.
Stan has spent the last 10 years studying and learning classical guitar pieces, improving his technique and performance skills. You can often find Stan at a local open mic, always willing to share his talents with his peers.
Stan has been featured at the following:
Sertoma Plaza Stage - storybook land
Kuhnert Arboretum stage
Storybook Land Uncorked
2023 Aberdeen Arts in the Park
2021 Northeastern South Dakota Celtic Faire