About the author

James McVay is an award winning composer/producer, songwriter, author and teacher who spent 25 years in Los Angeles scoring movies and television shows. A guitarist and multi-instrumentalist since the age of 8, James has performed and recorded with some of the country’s top musicians including Stan Getz, Doane Perry (drummer for Jethro Tull), David Schwartz, Kate Wallace, Caren Armstrong, Sid Page, Eric Rigeler, Kate Markowitz and the list goes on.  He has written and conducted scores for more than 40 movies, hundreds of television shows and penned dozens of songs for movies and tv. He has composed numerous contemporary concert pieces including his “concertino” for guitar and orchestra called The Industrial Day.

James is also an independent record producer who has worked with many of L.A.’s best indie artists including Oscar nominee Kathleen “Bird” York as well as 2 CDs for the eminent D.C. folk duo Emma’s Revolution whom Pete Seeger cited as the best new folk music out there today.  James has written, performed and produced 3 of his own CDs.  His first CD “Heroes On The Homefront” was called “a stellar collection of songs” by Dan Kimpel of Music Connection magazine . “Heroes… “ also won a place on CD Baby’s bestseller compilation CD and songs from the album have been featured on 2 other CDs. He is currently finishing his 3rd CD called Charm.  

As an author James has written 10 books, The Boogie Book  (how to play boogie woogie on guitar)  “8 Simple Patterns to Total Fingerpicking” and his acclaimed book The Right Brain Guitar Method  (52 concepts and techniques that employ a “right brain approach” to guitar playing.) In his quest to re-invent the way we teach people music he has recently completed his 7th book in The Right Brain Music Method series, all of which are available as interactive online courses.

James also does session work and performs as a solo artist, with his band Little Orchard, and as a “sideman” on multiple instruments for many other independent artists.