Ray Bergstrom was born and raised in Pasadena and started playing guitar at thirteen. A few years later in high school woodshop class, he made a guitar out of mahogany and maple, with a Carvin neck, and his own electronics. He still plays it today. But music wasn't Ray's first choice for college. He got a Bachelor's degree in Physics and a Masters degree in Engineering from Stanford before realizing that every spare minute was with his first love, music...

"In my last 2 or 3 years in college I was playing more and more. I was in a few jazz groups and then this big funk/blues/swing band called Sinister Dexter. I did Steely Dan and Police covers with a few guys and was in another small rock band that played Aerosmith and Led Zepplin classic rock. After graduation, I knew that if there ever was a time I could make a commitment to music, it was now. I wanted to devote myself full time.

The LA Music Academy was not what I expected because I had an image in my head that everyone was going to be a heavy metal shredder. I was relieved to find out it wasn't like that. In the first quarter there were 4 or 5 Japanese students and I thought they would probably be headbangers, I don't know why I thought that. But the first day of school everyone introduced themselves and all the Japanese guys said they were into blues and funk. All my stereotypes got blown out of the water.

It was just great to have music classes all day because this is what I wanted to be doing. I had studied a lot of theory before, so there was nothing surprising, but it solidified the knowledge I already had. And the teachers were great! I was just amazed at how good Jeff Richman and Dave Hill and the other guitar teachers were. I just love hearing what they have to say and listening to them play. It's really raised my level.

In the workshops we play in front of guitar students, and that's one of the most valuable experiences from the school. Not just because you're learning a song and playing it, but because you're playing in front of a roomful of people who are also guitar players, which is likely the most critical audience you will encounter. It's intimidating for the first week or two, but the environment is really relaxed and supportive so you get comfortable after a while and lose your fear. I don't think there's a whole lot of gigs that can scare me after that.

Getting ahead in music is all about networking. Networking is about knowing people who know the right people. The LA Music Academy has a built-in network already. You have this pool of musicians that you can draw from to make your own band. From there, the teachers and people that they know are a really good resource. Then there's random people you meet, like in guitar stores. I was down at Guitar Center the other day and got talking to a guy about the Academy. He's in a band with lots of experience, and he offered to put me in touch with all the booking people. Which is good because I'm looking for gigs for my two bands; 42 Scents, a heavy band with lead singer Sara Selleri, and an acoustic duo with Brad Myrick called Both Coasts Boys.

I would say to people who already live in LA that you don't have to go far away to find a good school. I looked at Berklee and others, and the LA Music Academy had everything that I needed. I think the biggest reason I came here was the teachers. No matter how good you are, you're not as good as the teachers here, and you're going to learn a lot.