Ian's Music Lessons

From the get go, I try to find out what the student may already know. Some people can be surprised to find out they already know more than they previously thought. If they know little to nothing, that’s ok too! 

Then within the first lesson or two, I get to know what teaching styles work best for them. Everyone is different and has different goals. I always gear the lessons towards achieving the student's goals, as quickly as possible, mixed with bits of theory and knowledge -which are always applied towards actual songs of the student's choosing.

Either way, by the end of the first lesson you will be playing music better than where you were when we started. I guarantee this.

I was raised in a musical environment. My Dad and I  listened to records throughout my childhood instead of watching t.v. When I got my first guitar, it felt natural to me. I quickly realized it was my calling to play music. I borrowed every book I could get my hands on from friends and family (because this was before the internet). By 17 I was in the winning band in my high school battle of the bands. From there, I also picked up bass and ukulele. Since then I have played bass and guitar for several bands throughout the Chicagoland area (most of which I was the chief songwriter)- winning several awards in competitions/festivals. Some of those bands include: Mantra, Gift of Tongues and Swing State. Swing State achieved second place in the country in the Emergenza festival in 2006. (We might have got first place but the band broke up about a week before the final show. It's an interesting story, among many...)

I started teaching professionally in 2001 at a small music store called About Music in Libertyville, Illinois. Since then I've taught at several stores and schools- and I haven’t stopped since. 

Apart from teaching, in 2006, I opened an all ages music venue/recording studio. We were open for over 9 years. There I met/recorded/and watched bands perform from all over the world. Many of the bands had some of my previous students as members!

Weekly online (virtual) lessons

30 min = $32

45 min (most popular) = $42

60 min = $52

I started teaching in 2001 at a small music store called About Music in a nearby town to where I grew up. I began teaching at another music store called The Music Source about a year later because unfortunately, About Music closed down (It's sadly a common theme amongst small time music stores). At The Music Source, I became the top teacher within a year -eventually having around 60 students per week- and I stayed there for over 5 years. I had to cut back on students a bit when I opened my music venue, Swing State, in 2006. After I closed down the venue in 2015, I shifted back to teaching full-time, but now in people's homes, my home and mainly online. 

All types. As I write this, I currently have a 3-year-old guitar student and a 75-year-old ukulele student.  As for personality types, I believe I've taught them all. Some people are more visual, some people learn by listening. Some people like structure, some people like more spontaneity. I see it as a part of my job to find out what works best for each student and then harness their innate talents from there.

Well although I’ve been teaching since 2001, I still get amazed by my experiences while teaching. And over those years, there hasn’t been a week that’s gone by where I didn’t add a new addition to my techniques as a teacher. As I write, tonight I helped an adult student figure out a chord by sheer theory alone. In other words, instead of just showing her the chord I wanted her to play, I utilized recent information I had taught her and she figured out how to play the chord without me having to touch my guitar or tell her where to put her fingers. It was an awesome moment and one I plan on re-creating again in the future with my students. The amazing moments are endless.

Try to find someone who has experience as a teacher- not just experience as a student.

What are your goals? Do you want to just learn some songs to play for family and friends around the campfire? Do you want to write your own music? Do you want to play open mics at cafes? Do you want to start a band someday?

It helps to know where you want to go with all of this so you can start going down the right path. It’s ok to change your goals as you go or not even know what your goals are as well- but it helps to try to figure them out. It’s a great way to keep you motivated. And the right teacher should be able to help you along and keep it fun as you go.