Hector “Tito” Rivera

Founder and Director

Born in Manhattan, NY and raised in Puerto Rico, Hector (Tito) Rivera demonstrated passion for music at age 12. He started playing drums and later the guitar at age 15. After mastering these instruments he was an active musician at his local church where he also started singing and learned how to play bass guitar.

At the age of 18 he moved to Connecticut where he continued studying the guitar. In 1999 he joined a Christian rock band called “Three to One” as the bassist of the band and toured all of New England. Later in 2000, the band recorded their first indie label album in Nashville, TN.

Touring a successful album release, the band unfortunately broke up in 2002. In 2003 he decided to take his experiences and talents to a higher level and enrolled at The Hartford Conservatory of Music after receiving a scholarship, and studied with Brazilian jazz guitarist Joe Carter. In 2005, he decided he wanted a classical background, so started to study with Dave Giardina. He went back to jazz guitar with Jim Martin and Dave Dana at the end of his college years and studied piano with Walter Gwardyak to fulfill program and teaching requirements. He earned a diploma in Music Pedagogy in 2007 and Recording Arts in 2009.

While still in school, he took on an internship and taught for National Music Workshop as a guitar and bass instructor. He then joined the Hartford Conservatory community faculty staff. During the same time, he was an active musician and the director of music at his church. He also taught at the Classical Magnet School and Charter Oak Cultural Center – both in Hartford, CT.

In 2011, he helped form and worked with a Latin jazz band called Sonido Libre. After a year and a half, he moved on and formed his own band, IMPORTADOS, which means imported, a mixture of ethnic musicians, adding different cultures and flavor to the band. He takes great pride in watching his students develop and progress.

“I am proud to share with you my years of learning experience in the comfort of your own home. My intentions, motives, and purpose, with my teaching program, are to help ignite a new way of creative learning and inspire you to create music using your own language — the way you learn. In my class, you will learn about my influences, as well as the musical ideas I have gathered from all types of genres that have shaped my playing, and will teach you how to do the same. This is my invitation, come join me and let’s see what music has been happening deep inside of you already!”

Hector “Tito” Rivera

Music has gotten to be part of Rivera’s life, he says: “It’s not the music itself, it’s what you perceive through it!”

He is driven by this thought as he continues to study the guitar and other instruments. He also composes and arranges his music.

He is most influenced by Latin jazz, although in his playing and techniques he incorporates all styles of music, including rock and blues. He is currently working on an album, which will reflect all his years of learning, influences and experiences. With this album, he wants to continue spreading the joy and energy of his passion for music.

He currently works with churches in the community teaching, directing and doing sound engineering. He also networks with other respected musicians throughout the Tri-State area.

His influences are: Carlos Santana, Pat Metheny, Sergio Vallin (guitarist from Maná), Maná, Classic Rock, The Edge (U2), The police, Eric Clapton, The Cranberries, Counting Crows, Alternative Rock, Petra, Guardian, Contemporary Christian Music, Juan Luis Guerra, Joe Carter, Eric Johnson, Fania All stars, Latin Music and more!

Hector teaches with passion – passing along his years of experience. He loves to see someone that starts with a dream and finishes with an achievement. He says, “everyone learns differently, therefore there has to be a different approach to those who need it.”

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“Tito became more than a teacher, he became a mentor and a friend.”

“I started taking guitar lessons from Tito back in January of 2008 for around 5 years while he was teaching from the back of a music store in New Britain, and later from his own home. In the beginning, he saw my interest and willingness to learn what he had to teach and he quickly developed personalized lessons for what I needed to learn and what I wanted to learn.

He guided me through the basics and details of the instrument, allowed me to ask as many questions as possible, and never underestimated my ability to understand what he was teaching. I learned the importance of the musical theory behind guitar playing. He shared his wisdom attained from decades of being a musician and a student of the instrument himself. He taught me that you will never stop learning so you must enjoy the journey and appreciate the epiphanies along the way.

With time, Tito became more than a teacher, he became a mentor and a friend. Over ten years of friendship and I still learn from him any time we share the same space. Humble and honest, I can’t think of any other instructor that will care and push you to be your best more than him. I’ve continued my music studies in college and beyond, and often find myself remembering advice he shared with me all those years ago while I was starting as his student.”

Jairo Garcia | Professional Bassist/Guitarist