his mother sent him to study sculpture, painting and ceramics at the art academy in oaxaca. it was there that he heard the sounds of classical music and learned to play cello on a borrowed instrument. he then switched to a guitar which was a gift from his brother, because his family could not afford a cello. at the benito juarez autonomous university in oaxaca, gutiérrez studied classical guitar and his musical interests spread to diverse genres including classical, flamenco, son cubano and jazz.