Welcome!
About Speed of Sound Live
Speed Of Sound Live unites a vintage inspired facility, quality musical instruments, accomplished music educators, and an accelerated music curriculum to offer a complete music resource for beginner, intermediate, and professional musicians.
“I do want it to be a gathering place of sorts,” says Ron Charlesworth, Speed of Sound's owner. “I saw a need in this area for a store that caters to people who play and want to learn to play music or just get better at their craft.”
Intentionally set in Healdsburg CA - a community rich in the Arts - Speed Of Sound Live exists to support local music, aspiring musicians, and collectors of fine musical instruments. We work in conjunction with all that is already musically happening in Healdsburg and offer new services for local and visiting musicians. In addition to Healdsburg, we aim to fill the void of a music school for towns like Windsor, Cloverdale, and Geyserville.
Our mission is to serve and connect the local community of musicians – young and old, professional and amateur – through education, instruments, and application.
About Ron Charlesworth
Ron Charlesworth - founder of Speed of Sound Live - is a seasoned musician with experience in several areas of the music industry. His versatility has allowed him to play the role of performer, producer, songwriter, project-studio engineer, educator and tour technician.
His special love is performing - he’s been doing so for over 20 years. Teaching others how to enjoy and perform music is the calling that keeps his music passion alive. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Performance from the University of Colorado where he graduated with honors. He plays and teaches a variety of instruments including drums, bass, guitar, vocals and piano. To keep up with current trends, he has recently added mandolin, banjo, and ukulele to his arsenal of instruments.
Early in his career as a drummer, Ron played with RCA Records recording artist Ty England (whose first single “Should’ve Asked Her Faster” reached #2 on Billboards country charts). In addition to the hundreds of concerts they performed together in the U.S., Canada, and U.K., they also made several TV appearances including "The Tonight Show w/Jay Leno," "Conan O'Brien," abroad on the "BBC" and on "CBS This Morning."
As a working freelance musician, Ron has been involved in several projects. He has provided harmonies and has been an integral part of the rhythm section for several bands spanning numerous major cities. Not limited to just one genre, he has performed R&B, Jazz, Country, Folk, Latin, & Rock in such venues as CBGB’s, The Kennedy Center, & The Bluebird Theatre.
“You can take what we teach you and go home and work on it on your own, and that’s one thing, but you really don’t understand it all until you play with other musicians. It’s like learning a new language, and that’s the experience we want people to have.”