Frequently Asked Questions
I can't seem to find your address or phone number. How do I get in touch with you?
Before you call to simply inquire as to price & location, bear in mind ... learning an instrument is an involved process that grows most effectively out of a good relationship with a skilled teacher. Identifying the right teacher for you is very important. It will be significantly to your best interests to come in for a free introductory lesson before making a decision as to whether our program is right for you (or your child). With that in view, you can find the phone number and location info here.
How much will I need to invest to take advantage of your program?
The customary introductory consultation is free. The tuition rates are available on the Programs page. After we know more about your goals we can provide you with a more accurate assessment of what we need to do to meet them. This is why we offer the free introductory consultation. Contact us here for scheduling.
I am ready to get started. What do I do next?
Click here and complete the Connection Form to schedule your free introductory lesson. We'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Why this program and not some other school or course?
You will not have to manage the pressure of a fast paced information mill, nor the frustration of an amateur learning how to teach at your expense. Instead, you will have the benefit of a mature professional instructor following a proven, structured program that will get you measureable results. Your teacher is passionate about your success and specifically trained in the complex social/technical art of TEACHING guitar as well as playing guitar. The format is private one on one instruction or small group. The facility is conveniently located a few blocks off I-385 – easy in, easy out, to accommodate your busy schedule.
Why do I need lessons at all given all the free resources available on the web?
Tried that yet? Let us know when you have had enough, and then we can discuss your goals and put a program together for you – hopefully before you waste too much valuable time and fall unknowingly into the snare of poor physical technique that always plagues "self-taught" guitarists to their great frustration. We will provide you with the right things, in the right way, in the right order, to get you the maximum results in the shortest possible time. We will also steer you clear of worthless marketing gimmicks, common beginner mistakes, and restrictive flaws in your physical technique that will frustrate you later.
How long will I need to take lessons?
That will depend on your goals, and your practice routine. For competence in the basics six months to a year should be sufficient if you carefully follow the practice recommendations. Beyond that, it is really up to you as to how far you want to go with it. We can cover new material and branch out into alternate styles and techniques for as long as you want to pursue it!
Do I need to have my own instrument?
Yes. I will be glad to offer advice regarding your selection of a starter instrument if you do not already have one.
What are your hours of operation?
Hours vary with enrollment. Generally, weekdays noon until 9:00. Please contact us for details.
Where are you located?
Conveniently located on the outskirts of Downtown Greenville at N Acres Dr, off Wade Hampton Blvd near intersection of N Pleasantburg Dr and Rutherford Rd, ten minutes from downtown or I-385.
Do you require a certain level of natural ability, or a certain rate of progress?
Our reputation depends on students’ successes. However, we both want this to be engaging and do not intend for it to be a high pressure, frustrating endeavor. We do necessarily require regular attendance and practice, and your progress will follow these two requirements. There are no tests or required rates of progress. Learning an instrument is a long-term process and we do not expect or demand miracles from the students (and we ask the same consideration in return!).
Do I have to follow all of the course recommendations?
Your teacher has a much larger view of the subject and thus knows what you need to do to reach your goals. Some aspects of learning an instrument can be challenging as you are building the foundations of knowledge and physical technique. As a student, you may not be able to see the benefit of a given exercise or technique. The course is carefully developed, and then customized to your goals, so as not to waste valuable time. Therefore, we strongly encorouage clients to follow program recommendations. If you ever feel that you are wasting your time with some particular aspect of the program, bring this to our attention. In such a case we will try to explain the reason behind the material or otherwise try to find an alternate solution to get the necessary results.
Will you teach me to play songs I select?
Generally, within the context of an overall program to increase your skills across the board, yes. However this will be up to our discretion. If, for instance, a client comes in on day one and wants solely to learn an advanced song with techniques that are far beyond the ability of a beginner, we will not be able to base a program on this. We will put this on the list of goals and will, over time, work on the skills required to play that type of song. Then, when the time is right, we will approach the song together.
What happens if I can not make a scheduled lesson appointment? Can we make up the lesson some other time?
We would like to offer you a job! Here are the terms: it is a great job helping others do something they love to do, but we need you to be flexible in regards to scheduling. Several times a week we will need for you to remain at your work station without pay, and then either skip a meal, come in early morning or late evening, or come in on your day off to make up for the lost time, or else just take a hit to your monthly salary, as we prefer. We will let you know a few minutes ahead of time when we will need you to do this, and when you will be working late or Saturday to make up the lost time. Basically just plan to be on call all week every week while only getting paid for part-time hours. When do you want to get started?.
This is the exact position that missed appointments put us in. We do not ask for a contract from our clients. However, what we do insist on is that customers agree with us for a mutually beneficial relationship. Once you ask us to reserve a time slot, we set that time aside for your benefit to the exclusion of others who would be willing to pay for that same time slot. We have a limited number of avaialble time slots, and significant operating expenses that have to be covered by this limited pool of time slots. Whether you attend a given appointment or not, the expenses associated with the time slot such as rent, utilities, insurance, taxes, equipment, facilities maintenance, and lesson preparation go on.
Our part of the agreement is to invest financial resources and time ahead of your lesson in order to have a welcoming facility, a skilled teacher, and an effective training program available for you. If we fulfill our part of the agreement then we must insist on the agreed compensation, just as you ask your employer to pay you for your time. Therefore, we do not offer individual make-up lessons, and we require payment for your reserved time slot as long as you wish to keep it reserved. We do understand that life throws curve balls and clients can not attend 100% of the time. We have a significant degree of make-up time built into the programs to make things as fair as possible, but bear in mind, what you are investing in is music skill results rather than face time with your teacher. If you can not commit to a regularly scheduled day and time for guitar training, and can not tolerate the thought of paying for a reservation in light of an occasional missed appointment, despite the results we deliver for you and all else we do to make this agreement a great value for you, then this would not be the right program for you.
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