Today we’d like to introduce you to John.
Hi John, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in a small town in western Pennsylvania. When I saw MTV for the first time I decided I wanted to play guitar. At the age of 16, my mom got me a cheap electric guitar and I began taking lessons at a local music shop. Some friends and I formed a band and within months we were playing house parties.
After graduating high school, I enrolled at Penn State University. While there, I continued to hone my musical skills. I took lessons from accomplished jazz guitarist Michael Dennis. I was also playing in several bands, gigging all around State College. Four years later I graduated with a B.S. in Molecular Biology. The problem was, I didn’t love science, I loved music.
So, in 1993 I went to Hollywood, CA to attend Musicians’ Institute (GIT). While there, I opened up my musical mind, playing many new styles of music. I had always been a rocker, but now I was playing blues, funk, jazz, country, big band, and classical. After a very challenging and intense year, I graduated with honors.
Returning from California, I settled in Pittsburgh, PA, teaching and gigging for the next eight years. Then, in 2002 I moved to Jacksonville to join a band called the WELL. We enjoyed success for a few years, then the band broke up.
After that, I began teaching guitar full time. I am the sole proprietor and instructor at Jax Guitar Lessons (jaxguitarlessons.com), which offers one-on-one guitar lessons in the student’s home.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Getting through music school was tough. There were a lot of phenomenal players there and it was easy to compare myself to them and judge myself harshly.
Teaching guitar for a profession is not always easy. No paid vacations, no guarantee of anything. Just the same, I’m thankful for my job and I love my job.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business offers personalized guitar lessons in the student’s home. I teach ages 5 and up, from total beginners to experienced players. I am a very organized, goal oriented teacher. Together we come up with a plan and then we see it through. I really care about my students and I really believe I can help each of them get better.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I also write and record my own original music under the name Crash Monarch (crashmonarch.com).
Pricing:
- 60 minute lesson = $80
- 90 minute lesson = $120
- 45 minute lesson = $60
- 2 hour lesson = $160
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jaxguitarlessons.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jaxguitarlessons
