STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
MARK J.
I have been playing guitar off and on for 55+ years with a modicum of success. It was not until I started lessons with Ian that my playing ability started to vastly improve. His virtuoso playing skills and deep knowledge of music theory has allowed me to put the pieces of the musical puzzle together, allowing for elevated technique and deeper understanding of the musical language. Ian Arthurs knows how to teach. His easy demeanor, clear concise explanations of rather complex material, and above all, his patience with this student.
I highly recommend Ian Arthurs as your “guitar guru” to improve your playing abilities and depth of musical knowledge, taking you to the next level of your musical journey!
MAUREEN A.
Ian is an amazing guitar teacher and musician. I have been taking guitar lessons with him for years and consistently see my knowledge and skill on the guitar growing and developing. He provides me with many different approaches to playing that keep me from getting bored, but instead, spark my creative juices, love, and interest for the guitar. He uses songs and fun drills to practice skills that make the learning fun and impressive to your friends! He teaches the guitar from all aspects: historical, mechanical, technical, and theoretical, so you come out of the lesson with a new appreciation and understanding of how it all comes together. He is an amazing teacher and anyone of any skill level would benefit and learn from him.
MATT H.
I have played guitar on and off for many years. After retiring, I started playing more and was looking for a guitar teacher.
I saw Ian perform and was impressed with his guitar improvisation skills. One of his students recommended him as a guitar instructor.
Ian is friendly, patient and easy to talk to. He can quickly identify what I’m doing wrong and suggest approaches to correct it.
Over the past two years Ian has guided and coached me with: strumming technique, timing, improvisational phrasing, modal soloing, writing songs, and on stage performances.
Ian is a gifted guitar teacher. Since working with him, my guitar playing and music knowledge has improved significantly.
STEPHEN A.
As someone who has been interested and involved in music for the majority of my life — all the way back to elementary school band, picking up guitar as a teenager, and dabbling in other instruments here and there — I always knew there was so much depth to explore if I could only break through. I often felt stuck in my playing, as I was never satisfied with my level of knowledge. Books and online tutorials can be great resources, but it wasn’t until I started taking lessons with Ian that I really started putting together the pieces of music theory and what a guitar can be as an instrument.
To put it simply, Ian knows his stuff. He’s able to explain the complexities of music theory in a way that’s easy to understand, and he always has the answers to my questions. He’s very knowledgeable about any topic I bring up, from reading sheet music to constructing chord progressions to improvising a solo. And he has the ability to meet you at your level, then give you just the right bit of information to guide you toward a new discovery.
Equally as important as his expertise is his demeanor. He’s always been nothing but patient with me, whether I’m learning a brand-new concept or I’m having difficulty training my fingers to a new chord shape. I’ve never experienced an ounce of irritation or frustration from Ian, and that’s something I greatly appreciate as a student. On top of that, he’s always got a generally positive attitude, even as he’s had to adapt to teaching virtually.
I’d highly and without hesitation recommend Ian to anyone looking to get more out of the guitar or from music in general, at any level of skill or experience. And if you have the opportunity to see him play, I encourage you to take it.
KEN L.
I have known Ian Arthurs for over fifteen years, both as a guitar instructor, and as a professional musician. I first met Ian in 2006. He was my son Ben’s guitar instructor. Ben had explored other interests such as soccer and Tae Kwon Do before deciding on guitar. Ian was very supportive, and his enthusiasm for playing was contagious. It was amazing to watch Ben’s progress week to week under Ian’s guidance. I always thought music lessons were supposed to be painful and boring, but Ben genuinely enjoyed learning to play with Ian. I never once had to remind Ben to practice. By the time Ben was 13 years old, he and his friends had formed a band (“The Rising”) and played their first performance at a church festival. Ian was on hand to watch his student take the stage. It was a proud moment for us both, I think.
Ian believes that music is meant to be played in front of an audience, and encourages his students to do that. He helped organize a weekly open-mic jam night at a local outdoor stage to allow his students, both young and adult, to play in front of a live crowd. The effect this opportunity had on his students was incredible – it really legitimized their standing as musicians, and built their confidence. As a parent, I can’t tell you the excitement and pride I felt watching my son and his friends share their talent to an appreciative audience.
It prompted me to start taking guitar lessons myself when I was forty years old.
For years, I watched Ben grow as a guitarist, and saw the immense satisfaction it gave him. I had to try it for myself. Ian is an exceptional teacher, and he was patient and supportive, and extremely knowledgeable about his craft. In a short time, I was able to play some of the songs I grew up listening to – AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Jimi Hendrix. More than that, Ian helped me understand how these songs were put together, and why they worked. He taught me to play 12-bar blues, and opened up the world of improvisational playing to me. What’s most amazing to me is that – at 40 – I thought my years of learning something new were behind me. Turns out I was wrong. Since I was a kid, I had dreamed of playing the guitar. And, as an adult, here I was, fulfilling that dream. I can’t thank Ian enough for that.
Ian’s influence on my son’s life cannot be measured. Ben continued to grow as a musician, and eventually joined local bands in his teen years, and was playing professionally in the Pittsburgh area. His love of music sent him to Nashville to study guitar building and repair at the Musicians’ Institute. He is now a certified luthier, in addition to playing professionally, and giving guitar lessons. Ian set him on a path to his future career, something I could never have predicted back in 2006.
I can’t recommend Ian Arthurs highly enough. He is an amazing player and an engaging instructor. He provides the guidance and encouragement which allows his students to discover the pure joy of making music for themselves. I’ve seen it for myself, both as a parent, and as a student. One of the best decisions I’ve made was to allow my son to take guitar lessons. That fact that he connected with Ian was one of those fortunate opportunities in life. If you are considering guitar lessons for yourself, take the chance. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience, and I can’t think of a better guide than Ian.