i became interested in guitar (which is to say, i subsequently became a complete nerd and lost all touch with reality and what ever social skills God had lined up for me) at the age of four when i got my first album "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" by Black Sabbath (thanks mom). Throughout my early childhood, i begged my parents to let me take guitar lessons, but in the infinate wisdom of adults, i was discouraged by a local teacher and soon gave in to other more "normal" childhood pursuits.

Later, at the wizened age of twelve, i heard the playing of Randy Rhoads on Ozzy's "Blizzard of Oz" album and thought, "i gotta get me some of that". i also thought about being a doctor or laywer at this time but, a musicians life seemed much more stable and lucrative... (that's sarcasm in case the non-musicians out there didn't get it). i began taking lessons and soon was transcribing solos from Randy, Gary Moore
and Angus Young (read: Angus "not-so-young").Soon after, i discovered classical music (Freddy Chopin, Bach, Hanson, the Spice Girls... woops!) and was inspired to practice up to fifteen hours a day (really). i also started piano lessons but you know, you can't jump all around and go crazy with a piano (unless you have one of those goofy girly-man strap-on keyboards; you remember; circa 1982? Need i say "LOVERBOY"?) i began teaching privately and giging in a bunch o' bands in the Pittsburgh, PA area.

Fortunately, i survived social darwinism, er, uh, high school (where grown adults try their hardest to suck ALL the individualism and creativity out of trusting children) and decided to further my music education (read: habit) at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. i studied all kinds o' wonderful stuff like modern and traditional harmony, arranging, counterpoint, ear training, sight reading and how to make 101 dishes from Raman Noodles. i began to listen less to guitar-oriented music and became open to many styles of playing and writing. i played many shows and did many studio sessions during this time, and taught students (many of them Berklee students) privately. i also played in several bands, one of which appeared on Berklee's CD Sampler '92 and a Berklee TV commercial (figures that my, probably, one shot on MTV was 10 seconds of me playing RHYTHM on a song i didn't write!)

In 1989, i taught advanced rock guitar at Duquesne University's summer program in Pittsburgh, PA. In 1990, i began teaching at the
Guitar Workshop where i am a senior faculty member and currently slave away my summers (hi Dave). And in 1992, i graduated from Berklee with a Bachelor of Music degree, also known as a, uh... "B.M."...

In 1993, i moved to the rotten apple: NY city. That's right, baby. NYC! Since that time i have appeared in Guitar Player Magazine, Guitar For the Practicing Musician (which they since renamed to "Guitar"? i think), the New York Times newspaper, the Washington Observer newspaper, a book called "The Modern Guitarist" by Matt Williams, and various fanzines and radio shows all over the world. i got into the NYC session scene and have played on the new season of "The Highlander" TV show and TV commercials for Kool Aid, Revlon, Max Factor, The Olive Garden, Campbells Soup, Remington Razors, a Julliard CDr and many others.

i've formed several bands including "Mindwalk"; a 3-piece progressive band in which i was the vocalist and guitarist. We played the New York City club scene incessantly for several years. i've also performed with a bunch o' sorta famous guitar guys like Marty Friedman of Megadeth, Paul Gilbert of Racer X and Mr. Big, John Petrucci of Dream Theater, Alex Scolnick (ex-Testament), Reb Beach (ex-Winger) and others. i have been teaching privately in the NYC, Westchester and North New Jersey areas (new students always welcome) and have an instructional video entitled
"Shred Is Not Dead" (uh... don't take that title seriously, some one else named it and with no pretention in mind) on Alfred Music Video, and if you wanna order a copy you can call: 1-800-723-2224 and ask for it or order it online . There's a book by the same title, too, though mostly different in content, and i've done a CDr instructional for Chopsfromhell.com. i've been on several compilation CDs as well- one from Guitar2001 Magazine, one from The Conquest Music Group entitled "Fresh Blood", a Satriani tribute CD called "Crushing Days" that should be in stores near you, and The "Alchemists" on LNR records and the "Warmth In the Wilderness 2" Jason Becker tribute CD from Lion Records. i am also working on a CD of my own, a solo project, if you will, (once again, no pretention intended and i promise i won't use my middle initial, such as: Terry F. Syrek's Rising Something or Other). In 2002, i worked with the Trans Siberian Orchestra.

i've always been a proud user of Jackson Guitars,and i'm happy to be an endorser.