Cain's Music

Hi, my name is Ian Cain and I’ve been studying music for 35 years. I’d say studying guitar but really it’s been so much more than just that. It’s been a lifelong passion of listening to, watching, and learning the history of so many genres of great music. From age 8 when my father brought home a much oversized for my little hands Fender 12 string acoustic I knew there was something incredible at my fingertips and that I’d found a lifelong companion. In teaching what I’ve learned over the years I hope to pass that same gift on to others.

I grew up in Pittsburgh and received formal training in rock and jazz while also being granted a scholarship for classical guitar from Mercyhurst College. In 2003 I moved to the Pacific Northwest performing both as a solo artist and in a few local bands before moving back home in 2017. I’ve learned a great deal over the years both from formal instruction and through the other musicians I’ve met and played with. I’ve experienced the teaching methods that work and promote growth and I’ve also witnessed the methods that suck the enjoyment out of playing guitar leaving students confused, bored, and without clear direction. There’s no one size fits all approach to learning to play music. Each student learns and thrives in different ways and a teaching method needs to be adaptable to accommodate that.        -Stylistically I lean towards classic, indie, punk, garage, & yacht rock, classic & indie folk, 70’s-80’s metal, and classic jazz.

With that in mind my goal here is to make learning guitar fun with a structure that has room for flexibility and tailored to fit each students’ individual goals. Yes, we will learn music fundamentals and theory along the way but it will be presented in a context that is enjoyable and directly related to the songs and styles you want to learn! Whether young or old, just starting out or you’ve been playing awhile but you’re looking for a new approach don’t hesitate to contact me so we can talk about your goals and how I can help you get there.