He is a very talented musician with a great ability for recording music. For several years he has shared his knowledge at High Tech High School in North Bergen. Rod Shepard is one of the instructors in the performing arts program.
In addition to teaching music, Shepard has compiled his students’ efforts into albums like their “Little Sop of Horrors” performance last year and the school’s show “Oz” this year. For “Oz,” a musical based on the songs from the popular film “The Wizard of Oz,” High Tech High School won high honors at this year’s New Jersey scholastic theatrical competition, held in Central Jersey.
“I’m very happy with the results I’ve seen from the students,” Shepard said during a recent interview in his studio.
He teaches the kids guitar, music theory and how to perform live. Shepard said he finds great joy in teaching young adults. But in addition to being one of the school’s most popular teachers, Shepard is an accomplished virtuoso with integrity and pride in his work. Many times he has had the opportunity to make commercial non-substantial pop music, but he says he keeps his focus on meaningful material and creates music that is challenging, thought-provoking and original. He is the guitar player for the bands Mistic Rein and Shepard’s Pie. He also coordinates the music and produces the bands’ material.
Originally from Brooklyn, the charismatic Shepard learned how to play guitar at an early age, but settled for a career in architecture.
“I was great at math and science and my parents wanted me to have a day job and be secure,” he said.
Eventually, after college in the ’80s, Shepard teamed up with several friends and started to play the New York City scene. He says he’s played all the small clubs in Manhattan. In the early ’90s, Shepard made the jump to the mile-square city, where he operated a small studio to record his music. His ability to mix and produce great tracks attracted other musicians, and soon after Shepard was producing songs for other bands.
In 1993 Shepard launched Xanthi Music recording and production on 321 Newark St. in Hoboken. The studio, where he is currently, is a much larger space with state-of-the-art equipment.
“We’ll record anybody here,” he said.
Like a true musician, Shepard said he must always have an acoustic guitar handy in case he comes up with a melody he wants to write down. He likes to play melodies before writing the words to songs.
Last spring, Shepard performed with several bands at a benefit concert in at the Le Bar Bat in New York City. The show was hosted by Bill Glovin and some of the proceeds went to the New York State World Trade Center Relief Fund.
When he is teaching at High Tech, Shepard reminds his students to always keep art in music, instead of focusing on what is commercial.
“I like to play the class a song from a new band and then play a song from an old band that sounds just the same,” he said. “It reminds them that not too many musicians are making original music.”
Shepard is currently working on several songs for Mistic Rein and he is organizing a production for his school. He lives with his wife in Fair Lawn. For more information on Shepard call (201) 659-3339 or visit him on the web at www.xanthimusic.com. q