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Paul Terrien Guitar Lessons

4.9 (16)

Best of 2020

1 hire on Lessons.com

31 years in business

About this pro

With over thirty years of performing and teaching experience, I like to focus on training students to execute the basics consistently. With that in hand a player can customize their learning experience to fit their own desires.

I love sharing my love of music and the ability to make it with folks from all walks of life.

Credentials

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Email verified

Phone verified

16 Reviews

4.9

Robin Young

Mr. Terrien teaches while playing along with his student in harmony or melody, not just echoing the student's part, which provides the student with the very real pleasure of 'jamming' as a real musician through the majority of the sessions. He interweaves high level music theory into lessons where the knowledge logically supports technique growth, making it feel less like a homework task and more like unlocking understanding. In the year my son has played and performed with Mr. Terrien, his interest in playing has deepened from, "this is kind of interesting" to "this is part of who I am and what I do", and that growth of passion is what parents hope for their child as they pursue a new skill.

2020-01-17
Esther Scarbrough

He made playing the guitar fun and learning how to play easy. The songs I learned were fun too.

2020-01-17
Brad Adams

Learning Guitar with Paul was a great experience He is very skilled and knowledgeable. If I didn't have the sheet music to a song I wanted to learn he was able to listen to it and figure out the cords needed to play it. Then he would write out the sheet music so I could learn the songs that move my soul. He's a laid back person and approachable but, don't come without practicing. You can tell he loves music and supports his students love for it too.

2020-01-17
Kael Wu

I started my lessons with Paul when I was in high school. I was very passionate about guitar in general just like I am today. Unfortunately, at the time, there wasn't a person who could lead me to my next adventure in music which was going to a music college. Then, Paul came into my life. He is truly an impressive guitar/music instructor and mentor. I was very sloppy at music terminologies. He explained those terms to me word by word. He also taught me a lot of chords and scale on the guitar which I didn't know at the time. Most importantly, he showed me the history of rock music which is where I came from. After learning from him, I got into a good music college, started a musical career after graduation, played with some of my biggest heroes, releasd my own solo guitar album. I couldn't thank him enough for his delicated instructions over the years. I still remember vividly that I was going through some hard phases of my life, and he gave me a pair of gloves and a scarf during winter with a note attached to it. The note reads "protect those fingers and stay warm!". I can still feel the warmth whenever I use them. I would say that he is definitely one of the greatest guitar teacher I have ever encountered. Highly recommend everyone to have lessons with him!

2020-01-16
Alex Mayfield

Paul Terrien is the complete package. Whether it’s theory, sight reading, playing by ear, technique, jamming, or just having fun, Paul can do it all. But his most important quality is his teaching style and the way he takes time out for each individual student. I am 54 years old and I’ve been taking lessons with Paul for five years. His patience and understanding of students is the reason I’ve been with him so long. A lot of good musicians can play music, but it takes a truly gifted and talented person to be able to teach. Paul is one of a kind. I am blessed to be his student.

2020-01-13
Chris Roebber

Exceptional instructor and great person. Paul is knowledgeable about a wide range of genres, from rock and metal to jazz and classical. I've been playing guitar for over 15 years now and Paul is the reason I made it past day 1. He keeps lessons fun and exciting but continues to push and challenge you to become a better guitarist every day.

2020-01-12
Andrea Lorenz

Paul has been working with 2 of my kids for 7 years. He seeks to find each musician’s spark and educate along the way. My boys work on songs that they choose, and not through (boring) lesson books. Paul guides their song choice so they are working on appropriate fundamentals and skills. I highly recommend Paul.

2020-01-11
Suzanne Singh

My 11 year old daughter takes bass lessons from Paul and has grown so much as a musician over the past year. Paul has a great rapport with young and older students alike. He expects his students to actively engage in their own learning but still manages to keep lessons fun. He has been very flexible with my daughter's musical interests, taking the time to focus on theory when she's ready to dive into a deeper understanding, preparing specific pieces for school performances, and expanding her repertoire with new and sometimes unusual arrangements to keep her engaged. I highly recommend Paul to anyone at any age or skill level.

2020-01-10
Zoe Kinis

He has a relaxed nature and explains lessons in an easy to understand way.

2020-01-10
Brad Stone

Paul always took a great interest in seeing my skills improve over time. He pushes fundamentals while always taking time to help you learn the songs you want to be able to play. Great attitude and all around great teacher.

2020-01-09
Chris Latsen

Paul is a wonderful guitar teacher because he listens to you and tailors lesson plans to meet the needs of each student. He is fun and relaxed yet he will also hold you accountable when you need it! I highly recommend Paul for bass or guitar lessons for kids of all ages!

2020-01-09
Michelle Lewis

I’ve been taking lessons with Paul for a little over a year. He’s an excellent teacher! He is very open to working on whatever I’m interested in, as well as introduced me to new music, theory, and techniques. I’ve grown in my playing ability and my understanding of music theory. He’s extremely talented and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend him.

2020-01-09
Mark

Paul has a way of making learning guitar fun and easy. I’ve worked with him for over 10 years on bass and guitar. I feel that I am a far better musician than I was before that time and that’s in large part due to Paul teaching me how to read music and how to better understand approaching my instrument.

2020-01-09
Kliff McBurtney

Paul’s lessons are an oasis of peace in this chaotic world. If I go in with an agitated mind, I always leave in a better mood and brighter outlook. Sometimes I feel like my playing has plateaued, but Paul helps show me just how far I’ve come.

2020-01-09
Nicholas Nordin

Paul was able to break down the core competencies of learning guitar for me and tailor his teaching to my learning style. He is very dedicated to his students and is willing to make sure he does whatever he can to make their experience enjoyable. I worked with Paul all throughout high school and attribute my continued success and enjoyment of guitar in large part to his teaching

2020-01-09
Molly Mo

Paul is 100% the best teacher (music or otherwise) that I’ve ever been lucky enough to have. Paul molds his lessons to suit the individual needs of each student, and always intuitively knows when a jam session will be more beneficial than running scales. Not only does he create a safe space for learning and musical expression, he is a talented musician and an exceptional teacher. If I hadn’t taken lessons with Paul, I wouldn’t have an outlet for those indescribable feelings that only seem to be relieved through creating music. Whether it’s electric, acoustic, ukulele, or even bass guitar, Paul is the exception to the rule “those that can’t do, teach”. He is by far the most talented musician I know, and sparked my ever-thriving enthusiasm and appreciation for music. Paul’s lessons don’t ever seem like studying or homework, but I can tell you that I still know how to play that riff from Crazy Train even 16 years after he taught it to me. 10/10, would recommend to literally anyone.

2020-01-09

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FAQs

What is your typical process for working with a new student?

We assess the student's strengths and weeknesses and formulate a plan for success. Our goal is to have fun making music.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

BFA-Music Classical Guitar Performance from UW-Milwaukee

Performance Certificate from Wisconsin Conservatory of Music

30 years experience teaching individual and ensemble music lessons.

35 years of gigging around the World 🌎

Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.

$120/month for 1/2 lessons

$200/month for hour lessons

by appointment

How did you get started teaching?

At first just showing friends what I learned at my lessons.

After graduating the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, I was hired as a student teacher for the Rock department.

What types of students have you worked with?

ages from 4-94

all styles, all personalities. everyone is unique and has a story.

Describe a recent event you are fond of.

Recently, I was visiting my brother in California. We explored redwood forests, the Pacific coast, and the Angel Island State Park. We even got some guitar playing done. It was great!

What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?

Practice daily! Make your instrument part of who you are.

You get out of it what you put in to it.

Have a good time all the time!

What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?

Are you willing to practice daily for the next few years?

Did you do your homework or just goof around?

Are you willing to invest in yourself.

Do you want to join the worldwide music collective?