Today we’d like to introduce you to Jan Rivera.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I do not come from a rich family. I am by no means a “legacy”. My life, has been a combination of struggles. But then again, that has been the life of most of the people I have met. I deeply believe that these struggles actively shape your life for the better. And so, they should not be resisted, but welcomed with a positive resolve and an intention of overcoming them.
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, in a humble setting. My parents, Violeta and Wilson, both taught. My mother full-time at a local university, and my dad at public school. He “moonlighted” as a part-time professor at the same university, working 2-3 courses to complete their income. This had the added benefit of allowing him to somewhat flex his higher level intellectual prowess.
Even though there were several houses at an early age, our home was purchased by my parents from a relative. It was a house with a cement foundation, interior walls made out of wood paneling, and a zinc roof. Although it wasn’t the biggest house in the world, we never lacked a thing. I split a room with my brother Juan Antonio, who is now an author and professor at a music conservatory.
We slept in a kid’s bunk bed until I went to the university. When we became “too mature for that” during our teenage years, we simply took them apart and placed the two sections next to each other. I still laugh when I remember sawing off the wooden pegs that connected the beds. I have to say, we had some of the greatest times a kid could ever have. There’s really too many fond memories to share…
While in Puerto Rico, I completed several music degrees and taught for the better part of 6 years. During my last 3 years in the island, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 50.
Trying as always to make the best out of a bad situation, I founded the United By Cancer concert series which lasted 2 years and benefited the American Cancer Association. (West Coast Chapter, Puerto Rico)
Try as we could, after 3 years of battling with cancer, my mother died in April 9th, 2006. I was 21, my brother 16. It was a horrid nightmare, the memory of which I confess, has left me scarred till this day.
Even so, this event would go on to fuel many of the most important moments of my life…
Having recently married, my wife Jary, and feeling like I had done my part in the collaborative effort that was looking after my mother, (I am extremely grateful to everyone that helped, still remember you, and see all of your faces during my daily life), I felt like it was time for a change.
I expressed to my wife the desire to move to California to pursue my dream. She agreed, stating that she always wanted to experience that herself. And so we moved, recently married at the age of 23.
We were young and naïve, with very little money, which is a common beginning for so many stories…
We had money for about 4 weeks, and lost the money for about 3 of them when we lost a connecting flight and the hotel would not honor our stay. Our last day of funds arrived when we met this fellow named Mario. He showed us an apartment and told us there was a 3 month wait list for it. Afterwards, I asked him if we could both speak in private.
I looked him in the eye and said: “Mario, even though my wife has a job, we only have one day worth’s of money. You see that rented PT Cruiser outside? All of our possessions are in it. If we don’t get this apartment today my wife and I will be homeless.” He paused for a moment and then said: “Come in at 3pm, we’ll talk.”
We came back and he said: “My parents went through the same thing you did. Someone helped them and it is why I am here talking to you. The apartment is yours, here are the keys. You can move in today.”
We slept on the floor for months on end, until we finally found a futon to sleep in that we bought for $40 off of craigslist from some random crazy guy. You’d laugh if you saw us trying to carry that solid wood thing up the elevator. My wife looked like a kid pretending to be a ghost underneath the futon’s mattress. I carried the lower end of it to try and take as much weight off of her as I could.
Speaking about Jary, she was instrumental in me achieving my degrees in California, as she supported both of us while I studied. That support has been monumental in helping shape my career. How could I have done everything I’ve done without her? The answer is simple, I couldn’t have…
While applying for my second degree at Musicians Institute, I didn’t have any money to pay. My only opportunity was to land 3 out of 3 possible scholarships, I needed musicians to record a video and reached out to some of my musician friends from the United By Cancer Concert in Puerto Rico: Ariel Ramírez, Jorge Nazario and Jaime David Vázquez (who was recently featured in two magazine covers for his musical contributions to Latin music.)
I remember going to a kid’s park in Puerto Rico to record because we had no stage. We only had one night to do so. During our last video it was already dark out so we had to turn on our car headlights and park them in front of us in order to record. (A brilliant idea by my wife Jary.) We were able to finish recording and soon the news came in…I had received all three scholarships and would be able to finish the degree!!!
Once I graduated from school, I worked as a T.A. at Musicians Institute. My wife received the offer of her dreams and we decided to move to San Diego. It was my time to do for her what she did for me and go to where her dreams lived. I would commute to Hollywood 3 times a week from San Diego for a year, until I decided to open my teaching studio. Among other things, it led to being selected to the “Best Guitar Teachers in San Diego” lists by Expertise.com for the years 2016 & 2017.
With the passing of years, I finally finished a book on advanced musical techniques that I had started writing back in school when I was 25. When the time came to publish it, I contacted two big publishers. They both declined without so much as taking a look at my manuscript. Then it hit me, why not just publish myself under my own publishing company. It took a bit but I was able to do so…
Advanced Rhythmic Concepts for Guitar went on to make the 2014 Abstract Logix top sellers list, and placed #1 in its category for best sellers at Amazon.com. It also received reviews by publications the likes of JazzTimes Magazine, Vintage Guitar Magazine. and a lot of the musicians I had looked up to. I still remember looking at my first review. It seemed unreal…
After this, I started to think about all of the others authors who might have great material but were lacking the opportunity. This is how Violet Anamnesis Publications was born. The name is an homage to my mom. Violet is her name (Violeta). Anamnesis is the ability to remember. I see it as the ability to remember and honor her greatness, dedication, success, and above all, her love and compassion for the people she met. The impact she had on myself and those who had the pleasure of meeting her.
To date, Violet Anamnesis Publications has produced 10 volumes of curricula and another 16 books of music instruction. The publishing house has a roster that includes two Musicians Institute Instructor of the Year Award winners, a staff member of the Cornel School of Contemporary Music, a Berklee graduate who is part of Alex Acuña’s (Weather Report) ensemble, and a Stanley Clarke/George Duke band member who’s also toured with Big Sean and Rihanna among others…
August of last year presented another challenge that was very hard for me. I lost my grandmother “Panchita” who was probably the biggest female influence in my life after my mother. There are no words to express the impact she had, and will continue to have in my life.
A month from her death, our four-legged friend Aly passed away. She was our first canine companion as a couple, that loving little shadow you could always rely on every time you turned around. We had the pleasure of meeting her as a pup, and enjoying her companionship for 5 years…
Deep in mourning, I received a call from a friend who let me know Fender Guitars was looking for a Music Consultant, to work as a Curriculum Writer/Developer for their new guitar learning platform. You have no idea how hard it was to answer the opportunity at that particular moment, but it would have been a betrayal to my parent’s/grandmother’s teachings, so I took the chance…
Next month, it will be a year since I started working with them as an independent consultant. I’ve honestly met some of the most beautiful people you could imagine.
People like Tina Lok, who is as driven as anyone you’d meet, Matt Lake, who relates to people in a way very few do, Mary Keenan (born in Puerto Rico), who has spent nights scouring through hurricane Maria news and aid efforts.
And perhaps, most surprising of all, my friend and co-worker Dylan Caliguiri. Without having any family ties, he doesn’t only donate his money, write his congressman, but looks for places to help like Haiti and Puerto Rico. Planning to physically go and provide his helping hand. A person who teaches at USC and has performed in the musical “Hamilton”, puts everything aside to actively look for ways to help as many people in need as he can.
Like I keep repeating, don’t resist your opportunities/challenges, embrace them. I wouldn’t have met any of them if I hadn’t…
About a week after the Fender call, we received news that Aly’s sister had never been adopted. We took Bitsy in with loving arms and never looked back. She’s been sitting beside me for most of this interview.
Life is a condition, embrace it. Don’t resist the challenges, welcome them with a positive resolve and an intention of overcome. You’ll be amazed of how often you will be surprised…
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In terms of projects, I am currently working on a record and releasing my next book.
Most important of all, I will continue to help the people of Puerto Rico in any way that I can. Hurricane Maria left a path of destruction unlike anything the island has seen before. Most communities have no water, no power, no way of communicating.
A lot of people have lost their homes or loved ones. There is a lack of supplies, a battered infrastructure and an urgent need for help.
I would encourage readers to donate if they could. Efforts like United for Puerto Rico are a great place to start.
Contact Info:
- Website: jrprivatestudio.com
- Phone: 310-488-5715
- Email: info@jrprivatestudio.com
Image Credit:
Nicholas Andrews
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