By Freddie Ferber

 

Introduction: Why This Matters

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of learning from some incredible teachers—musicians, mathematicians, dancers—and each one shaped me in ways that went far beyond technique. This isn’t a how‑to guide. It’s a reflection on what it really takes to grow: not just in swing dancing, but in anything you care deeply about.

Before we dive in, I want to be clear: taking series classes, drop‑ins, and workshops is a valid and valuable way to grow as a dancer. These formats are designed to help you learn new patterns, build skills, and have fun dancing—and they absolutely work. The intensive private study I describe here is for dancers who are especially driven to go deeper into technique, musicality, and artistry. It’s not the only path—it’s just the one that shaped my journey.

If you’ve ever wondered how to move from curiosity to confidence, or how to go deeper than surface‑level learning, this is for you. I’ve lived it—through guitar solos, math drills, and shag routines—and I’ve come to believe that the long game, the private study, and the right mentor can change everything.

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1. Devotion Over Dabbling 

I’ve spent most of my life chasing rhythm—first through music, and later through dance. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: growth doesn’t come from dabbling. It comes from devotion.

 

2. The Guitar Years: Discipline and Obsession 

I started playing guitar when I was 12. I took weekly lessons and gradually got better. As I progressed, I sought out stronger teachers and kept studying. At 18, I began classical guitar lessons and stayed with the same teacher for years, going to lessons every two weeks. During that time, I practiced six to eight hours a day. That period taught me discipline, patience, and how to build skill through repetition and refinement.

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3. Learning by Listening: Rock Legends and Local Heroes

When I was learning rock guitar, I listened to my favorite players—Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page. I’d slow down their records and copy every single guitar solo, note by note. That’s how I learned. I also sought out and learned from local guitarists I admired, watching them closely and trying to absorb everything I could.

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4. From Stage to Studio: Composing for Games

I spent years playing in rock and roll bands—gigging in nightclubs, recording in studios, and making records. Later, I worked as a staff composer for Ronin Entertainment, where I wrote music scores for three different computer games. These experiences pushed me creatively and developed my skills as a musician and composer.

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5. Fast‑Tracking Film Scoring

Eventually, I enrolled in the film scoring program at the University of Los Angeles. After sitting through one class, I realized the pace was way too slow for me. I asked the office if they knew Thom Sharp—a composer I admired who had written scores for Winnie the Pooh, Aladdin, and other Disney projects. He was teaching there, and I was able to get in touch and begin studying with him privately.

Every two weeks, I drove eight hours from San Francisco to Los Angeles. We dove straight into exactly what I wanted to learn—composing for film, creating mood, and writing for orchestra—and we moved fast.

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6. Returning to School: A Second Chance

That same approach helped me when I returned to school later in life. I was in the textbook business for years, in and out of professors’ offices daily. I knew the academic world well, but I had a personal gap—I quit school at 16 because of the violence I faced there, and that experience left a lasting mark on me. I used to have recurring nightmares about being stuck in high school, unable to graduate.

Eventually, I discovered I could enroll in college as an adult without a GED—I just needed to take a placement test.

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7. Math and Mentorship

I went to see John Martin, a professor I used to do business with at Santa Rosa Junior College. He was thrilled I wanted to go back to school. I told him I planned to take algebra over the summer, and he asked, “Freddie, when was the last time you had a math class?” I said, “High school.” He smiled and said, “Don’t take math in the summer—you’ll get killed. It moves five times the pace of our regular semester.”

My immediate response: “John, who do you know that I can study with privately?” He lit up and said, “That’s a great idea. I know just the guy.”

He connected me with Nick Dowdall, a graduate student and math major. I studied with Nick every day, and I fell in love with math. I prepared for the placement exam and got into the Algebra class I wanted. Fast‑forward: I got A’s in all my math classes—algebra, geometry, trigonometry.

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8. Practice Like a Musician

I remember sitting in my professor’s office, explaining how I practiced math the same way I practiced music. I’d set a timer for 60 seconds and work through problems like practice drills—the way I used to practice scales, guitar solos, classical guitar passages.

He said, “Most students don’t know this—you actually have to PRACTICE.” Then he added, “Freddie, you only need a 70 on the final to get an A in this class, but don’t study to get a 70!” I looked at him and said, “Terry, I’m not wired that way.” I was the only student to get 100 on that final.

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9. Transferring the Mindset to Dance

That mindset—study deeply, practice deliberately, and learn privately from someone who inspires you—has shaped everything I do. When I started swing dancing, I followed the same path. I found my idol, Kevin St. Laurent, and when he was available, I studied with him privately week after week. I also bought his DVDs and devoured them.

Later, I connected with Stephen Sayer, who generously invited me to Los Angeles to train with him. I also followed him to Barcelona, where I stayed for six weeks and took four private lessons per week with him and Chanzie Roettig. When Chanzie moved to the San Francisco Bay Area for a year, I had the good fortune of training with her consistently—and that time together eventually led to us performing together.

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10. The Power of Focused Study

I continued studying with Stephen and learned nearly every shag routine he taught—privately. He once mentioned that I picked up a routine in just a few days that usually took his students many weeks. I don’t say that to brag. I say it to highlight how powerful focused, consistent, and private study can be.

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11. Imbibing the Art

Yes, you can learn something from great dancers at a weekend workshop. You can pick up a few moves, get inspired, and meet great people. But if you really want to grow—if you want to dance with depth, confidence, and artistry—find a teacher you admire and study with them over a long period of time. Private lessons aren’t just about technique. They’re about mentorship, nuance, and transmission. You start to absorb not just what your teacher does, but how they think, how they move, and why they make the choices they do. It’s not just learning—it’s imbibing.