G&R Guitar Academy

I get to know them, figure out what they want to do, and tailor a program to help them reach all of their musical goals and beyond.

I was active in band and choir starting in 4th grade and all the way through graduating high school. I was involved with music in college as well, but music was not my major. I was in choir one year in college and took two music theory courses, mainly to refresh what I already learned from my guitar and voice teachers with whom I worked between the ages 14 and 22.

I took guitar lessons from 1981-1984, 1988, 1997-2001, and have been active with my current guitar instructor, Tom Hess, since July 2014.

I was also classically trained in voice for 1 year as a senior in high school.

But much more important than any of this, I have been trained by Tom Hess Music Corporation since July 2014. I have certified training in 5 distinct areas, 4 of which are specifically related to training on how to teach guitar.

I was 18 and going to college. Word soon got out that I was a competent guitarist.  Not long after that people were knocking on my door and begging me to teach them how to play guitar. That was in the fall of 1984.

All kinds. My current age range is from 6 to 71 when they started with me. I've had 7 year old beginners who went on to be in at least 2 different bands and middle aged students who'd gone through as many as 4 previous teachers before finding me and finally being happy with the progress they were making. I fix a lot of bad guitar lessons!

Keep in mind that the vast majority of guitar teachers are not trained in how to teach. And just becuase they have experience doesn't mean they're teaching the right things or the right way. And if they're a great player, that's a plus, but NEVER assume it means they're a competent teacher. Many musicians get into teaching music for the wrong reasons . . .

We're  not the cheapest source for lessons around for sure, but we're still lower than PLENTY of places in the area.

Our lessons are NOT for:

-price shoppers on a tight budget

-people who only want lessons for 1 - 2 months or who are seeking a "quick fix"

-people who are not able to practice at least an average of 30 to 45 minutes per day

-people who think they can get results without putting in time & effort

Our lessons are PERFECT for:

-People who believe that "you get what you pay for"

-People who intend to take lessons with a good teacher for at least 1 year

-People who are able to practice for at least 45 to 60 minutes per day on average

-People who understand that it takes time, effort and patience to get results

Ask yourself this: Do you really know what you need? Do you really understand what you will be capable of achieving? I ask this because two of the greatest things I ever learned as a lifelong student of the guitar (I'm 54 and still take lessons) are: 1) You don't know what you don't know, and 2) Talent is overrated. 

The more you learn, the more you realize how much more you have to learn if you want to keep growing. That's a GOOD thing. It means you can NEVER BE BORED. 

And I say talent is overrated because it IS. Behind every "great" musician are many factors and details that even those musicians no longer probably remember.  I don't praise talent. I praise work. And the more you work, the more amazing your results will be.  I can do stuff on the guitar that in 15 seconds will make even the most casual observer wish they could play guitar too. And I'm not even talking about something really fancy or technically impressive.  But I AM talking aobut something that takes knowledge and experience, with very little "talent". If you are still not convinced you can't make it as a guitarist without talent, that's okay. Because I will install it in you.

One final question you should think through is to ask yourself (about whatever it is you want to be able to do) "What would you do with that?"  Most guitar students have an idea of what they want to start learning how to do, but they don't think it through and ask themselves what they'd do with all this new knowledge and skill. That's why I say we "don't know what we don't know". Until we really get into the game, so to speak, we don't even know how to ask good questions.