$35 Guitar Trial Lesson

‘Helping ambitious teens and adults go from first song to confident performer in 90 days.’

Quick Facts

• Best For: Teens & adults; absolute beginners through advanced on guitar; up to intermediate on drums

• Playing Experience: 20 years on guitar, 18 years on drums

• Teaching Experience: 15 years on guitar, 6 years on drums

• Education: B.A. in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music

• Style & Focus: Blues, rock, metal; long-term planning; accountability; practice habits; songwriting and improvisation

Performance Highlights:

• 2023 “Best Cover Band in Milwaukee” – Shepherd Express

• 4 years with The Toys

• 2 years with The Sons of Sconnie

• 10 years as head sound engineer and worship leader at St. Paul’s Muskego

Bio

Alex builds long-term lesson plans around each student’s interests and goals. In your first lesson, you’ll sit down together to map out where you want to be in 90 days and in a year, then he keeps you accountable with clear practice plans, regular feedback, and progress check-ins every three months. In the first 2–4 lessons, Alex focuses on simple, consistent patterns so brand-new players can perform a recognizable song quickly and start building confidence. After 90 days on guitar, his students typically know how to tune, name their strings, read basic notes and tabs, and play 3–4 simple songs, often including their first chords and strum patterns. On drums, students learn the parts of the kit, a solid rock beat, basic drum notation, and how to keep time well enough to play along with songs.

Teaching Strengths

• Getting absolute beginners confidently playing their first song

• Building solid, sustainable practice habits at home

• Coaching students in songwriting and improvisation

• Breaking down complex or “vague” musical ideas into clear, step-by-step concepts

Best Fit Students & Personality

Alex is especially well suited for ambitious students who are curious, like to explore music on their own, and want a clear plan to get better. His specialties are blues, rock, and metal, and students often describe him as patient, encouraging, outgoing, personal, and a careful planner. When he’s not teaching, you’ll probably find him playing video games or listening to artists like Plini, Rush, Periphery, Guthrie Govan, Alter Bridge, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin.

Student Success Story

One of Alex’s favorite success stories is a shy teen who had never really found an activity that clicked. Over time, guitar lessons helped her come out of her shell, build confidence, and discover a love for both guitar and musical theater. She eventually went on to study musical theater in college and is now a full-time musician, which is exactly the kind of transformation Alex loves helping students create.

‘Helping students of all ages patiently build the skills to play the songs they love.’

Quick Facts

• Best For: Ages 10–adult; absolute beginners through intermediate players

• Playing Experience: 50 years playing guitar

• Teaching Experience: 42 years teaching guitar

• Education: Primarily self-taught; formal bluegrass and Irish music sessions; 2 semesters of classical guitar with Kevin Gallagher at the Milwaukee Conservatory of Music; 1 semester of classic rock riffs with Matt Schroeder at the Conservatory

• Style & Focus: Classic rock, contemporary styles; liturgical music; simple, slow repetition; short targeted exercises; helping students develop patience and steady progress

Performance Highlights:

• 50 years playing guitar for Catholic liturgies

• Directed contemporary choir for the Life Teen program at St. Martin of Tours (Franklin) for 6 years

• Currently playing in a hard rock and classic rock band

• Lead guitarist for local novelty/soft rock/Americana band ‘Vintage Notes’

Bio

Paul is an energetic, deeply experienced teacher who loves sharing music with others. With five decades of playing and over 40 years of teaching, he specializes in meeting students exactly where they are in their musical journey and showing them a clear path forward. His lessons use short, simple exercises and slow, steady repetition so students see a little improvement every week and learn to be patient with themselves. With consistent practice over the first 90 days, Paul’s students can expect to be playing basic songs in their favorite genres and starting to feel truly comfortable on the guitar.

Teaching Strengths

• Getting absolute beginners started and playing their first simple song

• Building solid, realistic practice habits at home

• Helping shy or unsure students build confidence over time

Best Fit Students & Personality

Paul is a great fit for any age student who wants to learn music and songs composed by others, across many styles of contemporary music. Students and parents often describe him as patient and enthusiastic, and he absolutely loves sharing his passion for guitar. When he’s not teaching, you’ll probably find Paul playing guitar or reading, often listening to bands like King’s X, Rush, Nickel Creek, and Vasen.

Student Success Story

One of Paul’s favorite success stories is a boy who started guitar at age 7, which can be a challenging age for the instrument. Week after week, the student showed up, worked hard, and kept practicing, even when certain chords were difficult. Over time, his persistence paid off as his playing skills steadily improved, showing how far consistent effort and patient guidance can take a young guitarist.

‘Helping dedicated students build solid fundamentals, understand their instrument, and improvise with confidence.’

Quick Facts

• Instruments: Guitar, Piano, Bass

• Best for: Ages 6–adult; absolute beginners through advanced on guitar, beginner–intermediate on piano

• Experience: 10+ years on guitar and piano

• Teaching since: 2023 (started with friends, now building a teaching career)

• Education: Currently studying in the Music Occupations program at MATC; several years of individual lessons

• Styles & Focus: Rock, indie, alternative; fundamentals, theory, improvisation

Performance Highlights:

• Guitarist in Crash House, playing shows across Milwaukee

• First live keys show with In Shining Armour

• East Coast tour on bass with Bug Moment

Bio

Reece is an energetic, laid-back teacher who helps students truly understand their instrument, not just memorize songs. His lessons focus on strong fundamentals and basic music theory so students can navigate many genres, recognize common song structures, and eventually improvise on their own. In the first 90 days, Reece’s guitar and piano students work on core technique, major and minor chords, and practical theory, all wrapped around songs they actually enjoy. He places a big emphasis on effective practice habits so students leave each lesson knowing exactly what to work on and how to keep improving between visits.

Teaching Strengths

• Building solid, realistic practice routines at home

• Preparing students for recitals and live performances

• Helping students use theory, scales, and chords for songwriting and improvisation

Best Fit Students & Personality

Reece is an especially strong fit for students who already know some basics on their instrument and want to “level up” their playing, especially intermediate guitarists and beginner to low-intermediate piano students. Students describe him as energetic, laid back, careful, and efficient in how he explains musical concepts.

When he’s not teaching, you’ll probably find Reece practicing or writing music, skateboarding, rock climbing, or relaxing with a game controller in hand. He’s currently listening to bands like Title Fight, Superheaven, and Pinegrove, and a fun fact students love is that he played trombone in high school.

Student Success Story

One of Reece’s first students came in knowing basic cowboy and barre chords on guitar. Over time, Reece guided him through theory, pentatonic and major scales, plus blues and jazz concepts. With consistent practice outside of lessons and Reece’s coaching, that student now has serious chops and a much deeper command of the instrument, which is exactly the kind of transformation Reece aims to create.