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Music Chair Gustavo Assis-Brasil Releases New Music Video
CSW’s Music Chair Gustavo Brasil, an accomplished guitarist known for his innovative hybrid picking techniques, has released a new music video. The performance in the video (shot at CSW’s Robin Wood Theatre) features the banjo, mandolin, triangle, and “stranjo,” a five-string guitar tuned like a banjo — a hybrid instrument Gustavo has been exploring.
According to Gustavo, the Stranjo "is a five-string guitar (based on a Strandberg Jacob Collier JC-5) that I tune like a banjo. The idea is to bring some of the banjo’s rhythmic feel and brightness into a more guitar-friendly setup."
The mesmerizing performance features Gustavo on Banjo and Stranjo, and alum Cal DiGiovanni ’25 on bass. Cal also produced the project, and Robin Glass ’20 shot the cover art. Jan Schwartz completed the mastering.
The mesmerizing performance features Gustavo on Banjo and Stranjo, and alum Cal DiGiovanni ’25 on bass. Cal also produced the project, and Robin Glass ’20 shot the cover art. Jan Schwartz completed the mastering.
Gustavo has published several influential books on hybrid picking, beginning with Hybrid Picking for Guitar (2005), followed by multiple advanced volumes exploring technique and musical application. His work has been widely recognized by leading contemporary musicians. His recording projects include original compositions and tribute works, and his music has earned accolades such as winning the Instrumental category in the International Songwriting Competition. He has also composed for film.
Follow Gustavo on Instagram at @gustavoassisbrasil.
CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.