Questions I Get
Every Week.

Lessons are open to anyone age 6 and up. Brand-new students get a foundation track that introduces holding the instrument, basic chords, and reading enough to play actual songs they care about within the first few weeks. There's no prerequisite beyond showing up.

Yes, adult comeback students are some of my favorites. We'll start by figuring out what you used to know and what you actually want to be able to play, then build from there. You'll be surprised how fast it comes back, and how much faster you can progress now compared to the first time around.

No. I teach total beginners regularly. If you've never read a note of music or held a chord, that's completely fine. Most people start exactly there.

Six is my minimum, and seven or eight is often a sweeter spot, old enough to focus through a 30-minute lesson and have hands big enough to fret a chord. Ukulele can work earlier (some kids do well at five). Every kid is different, feel free to ask before booking if you're unsure.

Half my students are adults: beginners, comeback players, and lifelong hobbyists. The whole "kids only" thing about music lessons is a myth.

In-person lessons are held in the Suwanee, GA area, convenient to Sugar Hill, Buford, Duluth, John's Creek, Lawrenceville, and Cumming. Online lessons happen via video and work anywhere with decent internet.

The lesson itself is functionally identical: same plan, same materials, same teacher. In-person tends to work better for younger kids and absolute beginners (I can physically adjust hand position). Online works great for adults, busy schedules, families that travel, and anyone outside the local radius. Many students do a mix.

Most lessons are 30 minutes, long enough to cover material, short enough to stay focused. A 60-minute lesson is also available for students who want more time, especially useful for advanced technique work. A 45-minute lesson can be arranged on request.

You get unlimited makeups as long as you give 24 hours notice. Things come up: kids get sick, work runs late, you have a tournament or a recital. The scheduling system makes rebooking straightforward from your phone.

Last-minute cancellations (under 24 hours) are typically counted as the lesson taking place, same as any private instructor. I'm as flexible as I can reasonably be, especially for genuine emergencies.

Yes. Weekly works best for steady progress, but every lesson is booked and paid for individually, there's no subscription to adjust. Bi-weekly or occasional lessons are fine too. We can talk about what fits your life best.

A 30-minute lesson is $30. A 60-minute lesson is $50. The free trial lesson is $0 and has no commitment afterward.

No. The price of the lesson is the price. No registration fee, no materials fee, no recital fee. You'll need an instrument and a tuner; everything else is included.

Each lesson is paid for individually when you book it. There's no subscription and nothing is charged automatically.

Sibling discounts and multi-lesson bundle discounts are available, ask when you book. Active students also get 15% off accessories at Town Center Music in Suwanee.

Yes. No card needed, no obligation, no upsell pressure. It's 30 minutes for both of us to figure out if working together makes sense.

My deepest specialties are progressive rock, jazz fusion, funk, shred, and modern jam-band. But I teach across rock, blues, metal, classical fingerstyle basics, songwriting, theory, and ear training. The What I Teach page has a full breakdown.

No. Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, and ukulele, same teacher, same studio, same rates.

Yes. Beginners need clean technique, real songs, and ear training, and that's exactly the foundation I build. Advanced players come for specific things: alternate picking precision, jazz vocabulary, prog technique, getting unstuck creatively. The level changes; the habit of starting from what each student actually wants doesn't.

Yes, and frankly, those are some of my favorite asks. I play in a Phish tribute band; I've studied modern prog deeply. Specific goals make for great lessons. Mention it when you book.

Some technique work and theory is unavoidable if you want to actually get good. But I keep it focused and tied directly to music you care about, not abstract drills. Nobody learns scales for fun, they learn scales because the solos they want to play are made of them.

Yes, you'll need an instrument to practice on between lessons. Don't buy gear before our first lesson though; we'll talk through what makes sense at your budget. There's a workable beginner setup at every price point, and a lot of beginners get bad advice online.

Depends on what you want to play. For most kids: a 3/4-size acoustic or a small electric like a Squier Mini. For adults: a decent full-size acoustic ($150–$300) or an entry-level electric setup with a small amp ($250–$400). I'll send specific recommendations after we chat.

Fifteen to thirty minutes a day is the sweet spot. Consistency beats marathon sessions, a kid practicing 15 minutes daily will smoke a kid who does two hours on Sunday only.

It happens, and we'll deal with it. Honestly, no practice means slower progress, math is math. But it's not a moral failing, and I'm not going to lecture you. We just adjust expectations and keep moving.

Probably not, a guitar that's hard to play or impossible to tune will sabotage even the most motivated student. If you're not sure, bring it to the trial lesson and I'll tell you straight whether it's workable or whether you'd be better off spending $80 on a basic starter.

Both. I've been gigging in the Atlanta area for over a decade. I'm the leader of Free Hat (three releases on Spotify), lead guitarist for Cadillac Rainbows (a Phish tribute), and a regular sit-in with the BadAsh Allstar Team. I play roughly every weekend. The About page has the full story.

Over five years of private guitar, bass, and ukulele instruction. I've worked with students of every age and level in that time.

Yes. Any institutional teaching arrangement I work through requires it, and I'm happy to share documentation with parents on request.

Please do. Free Hat plays regularly around Atlanta, Pontoon Brewing, Smith's Olde Bar, Sweetwater Taproom, Aisle 5, MadLife Stage and others. Show calendar is on the Free Hat site (freehatmusic.com) and on Instagram @free_hat_music. Often the best way to know what your teacher actually sounds like.