We start with a couple of simple questions: What do you listen to? What inspired you to pick up the guitar? Who do you want to play like? From there, we start learning the songs you want to play.

Why?

People learn more effectively they’re genuinely interested in the material.

This song-oriented approach makes finger exercises and learning scales and chords — all of that stuff that might otherwise feel monotonous — more enjoyable because we apply them directly to the song we’re working on that week.

Whatever you’re interested in, whether it be Rush, Pink Floyd, Tame Impala, Chet Atkins, Rage Against the Machine, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Sound Garden, or Nirvana, our lessons focus on the music that inspired you to pick up the instrument.

As students grow more comfortable, they also have opportunities to play with a full band in what we call “The Woodshed” at my home rehearsal space.