Frequently Asked Questions
Engagement is the only thing that matters in the beginning
If a student is forced into traditional lessons (scales, notation, and theory) before they ever hear a sound they actually like, they usually quit the moment the parents stop pushing. They view the guitar as a chore, not a tool for expression. It’s the same for any adult that wants to start their musical journey. You Want to Play Now!
Our “Play First” Philosophy: I believe the most effective way to see if a student wants to keep playing is to give them a win in the very first session. If they can leave our studio feeling the vibration of the strings and making a real musical sound, they are hooked. That initial spark is what carries them through the technical parts of learning later on.
The Traditional Path: Traditional sheet music is a wonderful language, but it can be a slow one to learn. If a student is focused on notation before they find the joy of the instrument, the guitar often ends up in the back of a closet. We prefer to build the passion first and the academic foundation second.
The Hybrid Approach: Our 8 week session is designed to test the waters. By using intuitive tools like guitar tabs and ear training, we remove the technical hurdles that cause most people to give up. Once
a student realizes they have the ability to play, their natural curiosity leads them to want to learn more.
We believe in building a musician before we build a scholar. If the goal is a lifelong hobby, the most effective method is the one that keeps the guitar in your hands every single day. We focus on the fun so the practice
never feels like a chore. Playing is Practicing.
We skip the nursery rhymes and get straight to the music
The Foundation: Open Chords, Easy Chords, Power Chords and Musical Exercises that are fun to play & sound cool.
The Style: Strumming, Rhythm, Switching Chords, Finger Picking & Playing Your Favorites.
The Instrument: How to maintain, restring and tune your guitar.
Gear: We can advise our experiences with Acoustics, Electrics, Amps, Pedals, Tuners, Picks, PA Systems & even recommend recording software.
The Fun Stuff: Introduction to Soloing, Hammer-Ons, Bends, Slides and the Pentatonic Scale.
The “Ear”: Finding the key of any song so you can jam along to anything.
Resources: We have a library of printable exercises that are musical in nature, thus keeping you interested and building your foundation.
Tabs: Most students can understand the basics of a “tab” in their very first lesson.
The Goal: To love to play first. The theory follows the passion. We focus on playing music alone or with others.
NO!! Paul didn’t start playing guitar till he was 35 years old. Brad started when he was about 10. Our introductory course is intended for ages 12 and up, but we can talk with you first if you have a younger student that wants to learn how to play. Brad teaches children in Jacksonville while he attends UNF.
No you do not. We can provide a guitar for the lessons and also give advice on what guitar would be best-suited for you or your teen. It’s important to get yourself something that is playable which encourages you to play more. Playing is Practicing.
The right guitar to start with is the one that gets you excited to play. We have seen students succeed on every type of instrument. Here is a quick guide to help you choose the best fit for your goals.
The Electric Advantage: Many of our students choose an electric guitar because it is a high speed path to progress. The strings have a light, responsive touch and the necks are slim. This makes it very easy to form your first chords, build your confidence quickly and sound cool.
The Classical Option: Classical guitars use nylon strings which feel very soft and smooth. They are a wonderful choice for players who want a gentle introduction to the instrument. While the necks are a bit wider, they provide a great foundation for fingerstyle techniques.
The Acoustic Path: A steel string acoustic is the ultimate grab and go instrument. It is always ready to play and requires zero setup. These are excellent for building great finger strength and they have a rich, natural sound that works for almost any style of music.
The Silent Benefit: If you choose an electric, you can use an inexpensive mini plug amp. These are budget friendly and allow students to use headphones or AirPods. It is a great way to practice in the living room while the rest of the family watches a movie. Only the student hears the music.
The Bottom Line: Don’t let the gear hold you back. Whether it is an electric, a nylon string, or a steel string acoustic, our goal is to help you love the sound you are making from day one.
We know summer is for travel. Brad is home all of May, June, and July. Paul is here all year round. Your 8 sessions don’t have to be done consecutively. You can skip a week for vacation and pick up right where you left off. We are extremely flexible and understand that not everyone will do 8 weeks in a row. You also get a better rate instead of paying by the hour.
We can come to your home or you can come to our home studio in North Port. Whatever makes you most comfortable.
We focus on a much faster and more intuitive system called Guitar Tablature. It is a visual map of the guitar neck that shows you exactly where to put your fingers. Most students can understand the basics of a “tab” in their very first lesson.
Reading traditional sheet music is a wonderful skill for later in your journey. However, if your goal is to play your favorite songs this summer, tabs are the way to go. It is the language that most modern guitarists use to share music and learn new riffs quickly.
There are millions of songs available online in tab format for free. Once you learn how to read them, you can find almost any song you have ever wanted to play. We will show you how to find the most accurate versions so you can practice your favorite tracks at home.
The Goal is Progress
Our priority is getting you hooked on the sound of the instrument. Tabs allow you to bypass the technical hurdles of sheet music and get straight to the “Love to Play” phase. It is the most rewarding way to start your musical journey.
When Brad heads back to the UNF Music Department on August 1st, the music doesn’t stop. We’ve designed this to be a seamless transition:
More Sessions with Brad – If your student wants to continue, Brad is home until Aug 1st, so we can schedule several more classes at a discounted rate as well.
Continued Mentorship with Paul – I personally take over for Brad’s graduating students. We’ll keep the momentum going until you’re ready to move into advanced, specialized training. By now, most of the students will have met me and know that I am rooting
for them to succeed. I get just as excited as they do when they can start making music.
Virtual Sessions with Brad – If your student has built a great rapport with Brad and wants to stay the course, they can continue virtual lessons for just $20 per half-hour and/or pick up more in person lessons during Holiday Breaks. Brad will graduate in 2027 and will be available full time after that.
Advanced Hand-Off: Once a student outgrows our foundational program, I will personally introduce you to one of my trusted local partners for high-level technical training.
We don’t teach shortcuts – We help you or your teen find out if you want to go further by skipping the theory in the beginning. In the long run, this makes learning theory interesting as it will start to make sense once you’re already playing your guitar just because you love to.
We are a Father and Son team, not a big corporation. Because we only accept 15 students total, every slot is valuable. We aim to be as flexible as possible while still keeping our schedule running smoothly for everyone.
If you need to move a lesson or get sick, we know life happens. If you need to reschedule, please give us a heads-up and we will work it out. This allows us to offer that time slot to another student or adjust our own practice and lesson prep schedule. There is no penalty or charge for missing a lesson. The 8 session class with Brad is spread out over 12 weeks, so there’s a lot of flexibility built in.
The goal is for you to love the guitar. We also know that sometimes a hobby just doesn’t click. We have no interest in hassling our neighbors over contracts or fine print. If you decide to stop before your 8 sessions are up, we would love to have a quick conversation. It is very common for a student to feel a bit of a challenge during the initial physical adjustment to the strings. We promise that if you stick with it for just a short while longer, you will get through this phase and it becomes much easier. We are here to coach you through those early hurdles.
If you still feel it isn’t the right fit, we will simply look at the lessons you have already taken, refund the difference (by the hour charges though) and wish you well.
Our goal is to build a community of players in North Port. We just ask for open communication. If something isn’t working for you or your student, just let us know. We are here to make the experience as rewarding as possible.