Carl Verheyen is showing me his guitar part for the upcoming action film Speed Racer, a whirlwind score of climbing tempos and sudden shifts not unlike the winding mountain drive to his studio.

Three pages of notation blur by at NASCAR tempos. Sight-singing the intricate, high energy cue, Verheyen pauses to explain technical challenges — a difficult passage here, a leap in register there — before crossing the musical finishing line.

"That was an intense session," he exclaims. "Very guitar and drum intensive, and hard sight reading. Ralph Humphrey was on drums. He and I had nothing but fun," Verheyen says, noting a long-standing professional relationship with the Drum Program Co-Chair.

As an A-list studio veteran who's performed on literally thousands of recording dates, finding innovative solutions under pressure is what Carl Verheyen is often called to do.

It's also part of what makes him a natural teacher. The energetic virtuoso has an easy way of relating his choices and techniques, breaking down even the thorniest of musical passages until they sing and flow. Making them, in a word, doable.

"As an Artist-in-Residence, I'm having a lot of fun, and it keeps getting better and better," he enthuses. Verheyen praises the Academy's real-world approach, calling it "more broad-based: there's jazz, there's rock, there's everything there."

There is only one Carl Verheyen. With eight albums of original music under his name and frequent world tours with the Carl Verheyen Band or as a solo guitarist, Carl has built a dedicated worldwide following. Add the fact that he's played lead guitar in the British rock group Supertramp since 1985 and you have one in-demand guy.

To Carl, knowing a wide range of styles is crucial to success in the music business. "In the real world you have to bend notes, right in tune, and your vibrato has to make sense," he begins, adding that the ability to interpret music off the page is also important. "All of these skills are paramount to making a living," he counsels.

Developing not only versatility but also the ability to be an effective team player are qualities Carl emphasizes to students. "I encourage making a living, because unless you're a solo artist, improvising is maybe ten percent of what you get called to do, which is come up with great parts, and groove," says Verheyen, who often gets hired as a 'rhythm coach' by bands wanting to improve their chemistry.

His first workshop shed light on the players who influenced him — a diverse list of innovators that includes George Harrison, Wes Montgomery and Andy Summers. Verheyen then presented the "artistic signatures" of each before leading students to explore and consider their own individual sounds. "I think it's our goal to make music sound different," he tells students. "If you have your own music inside of you, you've got to go for it."

Whether he's analyzing film scores, discussing the proper application of effects or revealing other tricks of the studio trade, Carl brings a fresh perspective to each task set before him. In his interactions with students, Carl is insightful and generous. As a teacher, his goal is to help each student find "something to call your own that will start you down a path of musical self-discovery."

His own professional path began in Pasadena, just a few blocks from the future home of LA Music Academy. "There was a restaurant on Lake Avenue called The Sawmill," he recalls. "I played there from age 18 to about 20, playing five nights a week for $75 a night. That was big money for a kid living at home," says the guitarist. He's been professional ever since.

Time on the East coast led to gigs with legendary bebop drummer Max Roach, a tremendous confirmation of Carl's jazz expertise. Back in California, Carl found an increasing demand for his services. Soon Hollywood came calling. With a string of distinguished performances, Carl began to build his reputation as a first-call session guitarist — one gig at time.

By now, it's likely you've heard him hundreds of times without knowing his name. The Django-esque guitar in Ratatouille? That's Carl fronting a 104-piece orchestra, a featured soloist throughout. From Dolly Parton to Christina Aguilera, From Cheers to Lost, Carl continues to be associated with stellar talent and high-profile projects.

But clearly Carl Verheyen is more than an ace session guy, as Academy students witnessed at a recent open rehearsal of the Carl Verheyen Band. Taking advantage of the Academy's 'open door' policy, Verheyen led his group through a blistering set of material in the Performance Hall, polishing and testing songs from their new CD, Take One Step, for a European tour. Open rehearsals in the Performance Hall are about as 'real world' as it gets, giving students a privileged opportunity to observe virtuosos such as Verheyen close-at-hand.

It's Verheyen's particular blend of artistry and astounding technique that truly makes him world-class. Often favoring a Fender Stratocaster, Verheyen's music is harmonically rich but still deeply rooted in blues and country. Or countries, we should say: his lyrical composition "Highland Shuffle" was inspired by the parade drums and bagpipe music Carl heard on a recent trip through Scotland.

But just as Carl Verheyen goes out into the world, he also brings the world to the Academy. "I get emails every day: 'I'm thinking of coming to Los Angeles to study music. Where should I go?' I send them to LA Music Academy," he says. "I like the school, the vibe, and the size. It's also a great location," he relates.

As an Artist-in-Residence, Carl encourages students to seek new challenges and uncover the restless creativity needed to inspire a lifetime of learning. It's also apparent he continually strives to top each performance or recording, as evidenced by the Platinum records and awards in his Topanga Canyon studio.

It's another of Carl Verheyen's real-world lessons: Never rest on your laurels.

"Constantly keep yourself interested," he advises. "And keep that open mind."