Guitar Lessons by Ian White Music

One hour a week to evolve your music-making for good.

Are you interested in getting started with guitar, but overwhelmed by the seemingly endless sea of YouTube videos, books, and how-to articles?

Are you struggling to turn the corner in your playing, stuck feeling like you’re going through the motions musically?

Are you looking to add dimension, creativity, and freedom to your musical output?

Mastering the guitar is a noble pursuit, but especially in its modern form, it can lack direction, warmth, and satisfaction. It’s just as frustrating to self-curate YouTube lessons as it is for a disinterested guitar store employee to drag every student through the same dated handbook. Thankfully, I’ve developed a system that not only builds strong foundations and rewards dedication, but fosters creativity, celebrates the unique voice in each player, and supports confident, incisive musical decision-making.

WHAT MAKES MY LESSONS UNIQUE

Instead of simply teaching songs, we’ll distill the parts of your favorite players, making their signature moves part of your musical utility belt.

Instead of slogging through a cold academic approach, we’ll illuminate music theory, songwriting principles, and mechanic discipline for the resources that they are, putting their power in your hands to wield instead of feeling bound by it.

We’ll leverage the modern tools at our disposal to track your progress, celebrate your accomplishments, and give the concepts that you learn valuable context.

MY STORY

For much of my twenty-year guitar journey, I struggled to find security and affirmation as a self-taught player. Concerned that I might be missing some vital tools that were available in more traditional approaches, I felt a constant fear of being exposed as a “fraudulent” player. Over the years, I’ve realized that the time I’d spent devoted to learning the instrument on my own had given me the same tools as anyone else, but marked by a unique sense of personality that’s all my own. Crucially, my journey also gifted me with an incisive perspective on the discipline of learning the instrument. Learning guitar shouldn’t be a solitary endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be cookie-cutter or formulaic either. Academic perspective can coexist with creativity, and even enable it! You can rock and still know how to explain what you’re playing.

Between six years as an elementary school music teacher, ten as a band leader, and more as a bandmate, session player, and artist, I’ve encountered enough musicians to know that the way ideas are conveyed is just as important as the content itself, and that our posture towards our artistic discipline is crucially important.

My lessons are constructed so that our main goal is always in sight: we want to make music that we love, in a way that makes the process as enjoyable as the product.

Those who’ve worked with me have enjoyed an instructive experience that feels much more like having a corner man than a professor. I’m here to bring out the guitarist in you that already exists, to encourage you to love the process of learning as much as you love getting to call yourself a guitar player. I’m here to teach you to enjoy learning the instrument as much as I am to help you learn it.

ARE MY LESSONS RIGHT FOR YOU?

There’s nothing wrong with working through tablature to learn your favorite riffs to play for your relatives, but my approach is much more wholistic. I’m committed to equipping driven players to take ownership of their musical evolution, and while I believe anyone has what it takes, you might be particularly ready if you can see yourself in the following attributes:

You might be a good fit if

  • You’re ready to see music-making from a different perspective

  • You’re willing to be challenged to be the best musician you can be

  • You want to encounter concepts in a way that takes your personality into account

  • You know that the guitar journey is better with an ally

You might not be a good fit if

  • You’re just trying to learn the intro of that song to show your buddies

  • You have no interest in exploring your own music-making

  • You’re not ready to invest time and care into your playing

SO HOW DOES IT WORK, SPECIFICALLY?

My lessons are divided into four phases that are designed to equip complete beginners with all the tools they’ll need to confidently operate in any music-making situation. Many players will start with some existing skills, and our first meeting consists of evaluating the current position of each player within the four phases.

In Phase 1, we build foundational skills and healthy rhythms.

In Phase 2, we focus on comfort and dexterity on the instrument.

In Phase 3, we invest in competency, utility, and flexibility.

In Phase 4, we capitalize on creativity, expression, and breadth.

The number of lessons required to complete all four phases will vary from student to student, and progress will be dependent upon the student’s ability to demonstrate the concepts contained in each phase.

My rate is $60 upon completion of each hour-long lesson.

Lessons are designed to be held in person, but can be augmented to accommodate remote meetings via FaceTime or Zoom.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Fill out this Lesson Request Form to let me know you’re interested, and we’ll be in touch regarding an evaluation:

LESSON REQUEST FORM