Rick's Musical Instruments, INC.

There are many ways to learn guitar.  Method books, a chord based approach, teaching through songs, etc.  Not everyone learns the same way, so being a versatile teacher is an absolute must!

My job is to keep you interested while getting you to play guitar in the most fun and productive way possible.

If you would like to use a traditional Method Book, I use the Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book series.  Otherwise, we build the lesson plan around your preferences.  It all depends on what your musical goals are!

I began by working with a classical guitar teacher at age 10.  I continued with lessons with this teacher until I was 13.  I then started a ska/punk band with 6 of my best friends that lasted 8 years.  During that time, I studied music at Rhode Island College for 1 1/2 years, and began teaching guitar lessons at age 18 in 1999. 

I then began to study guitar with a second guitar teacher who focused on theory and technique for 2 years.  During this period, I worked in a cover band playing local restaurants and bars.

In 2004, I opened my own studio with a few other musicians.  This instructional studio grew to over 300 students and in 2010, I was offered a job as a General Manager at a prominant local music store.  There, I have continued my teaching career with an average of 25 students per week as well as the General Manager duties.

I also completed a substitute teaching course which granted me a teaching certificate from the state of Rhode Island.  This course focused on variable learning abilities.

Most teachers charge per lesson and the average pirce per lesson is $25.00.  I charge a monthly tuition of $95.  I adopted this system in 2018 because it eliminates the need for "make up" lessons and rescheduling nightmares.  Holidays and vacations are accounted for so all months are $95 per month regardless of how many lessons are received.

For example, a student may receive 5 lessons in a month due to the number of Fridays in that month, or they may receive 3 lessons in a particular month due to a holiday.  It all evens out in the end.  I have had overwhelmingly positive reviews with this system.  

If you miss a lesson, you may reschedule your lesson with my Online Google Guitar Schedule for the following week, or another day that week.  Its simple and eliminates the back and forth communication needed to reschedule a typical missed lesson.

I began formally began teaching 2 kids in my local neighborhood.  This allowed me the opportunity to "dip my toe" in the water of teaching before applying for a guitar teaching position at my local music store.

During this time, it allowed me to really hone in why I became a guitar teacher.  I thought back to how I was taught and what I liked/disliked when I was being first taught guitar.  I developed a passion for teaching and never looked back since.

I have taught students as young as 3 years old (I recommend a minimum age of 6) and as old as 65.  The overwhelming majority of my students have started as pure beginners but I have had many "intermediate" students who have come to me with at least a few years playing experience.  I see both groups of students as equally fun to work with.

Additionally, I have successfully taught many students with learning disabilities.  My patience and situational understanding are my biggest assets with these students.

Recently I have seamlessly converted all of my private one-on-one students to virtual lessons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  I have overwhelmingly positive feedback from my current students that they have felt that the quality of the lessons have not diminished during this time.

Find a teacher that you can develop a personal connection with.  Music is about creativity.  If you cannot open up and be comfortable with your music teacher, this will prohibit creative learning.

Learning to play the guitar takes time.  Not only should you commit to your 30 minute lesson each week, but dedicate a portion of your day to sit with your instrument and have fun with it at every level.