SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS STORIES

It gives me great joy to see my students having fun and success with their music.  I consider myself only the coach and all of their accomplishments are their own efforts that produce the successful result.  Here are a few success stories of my local students here in Dallas and around the world. 

Tom Cheatham said that if not for my encouragement he would not have ever done this.   So now I am telling you all the same thing.  Do it.   Why not?

Paige V. is going to be a star.  You can count on that.  She has been preparing her entire life for that inevitability.   This is what happens when hard work meets natural ability with a ton of desire.   www.myspace.com/paigerockmusic  How many 7th graders do you know with a cd of original music?  Lefty guitar player.  Go Paige go!!!

Travis Smith made it to the front page of the Dallas Morning News http://Guidelive.com  and the paper too today: 18 Oct 06.

Dave K. (far right with gold Stratocaster) and his band Little B and The Fat Cats performing at the Dallas International Guitar show 21 April 06 on the main stage.  At the end of the show Dave bashed his guitar ala great rock and roll tradition.  Great show!

TRAVIS MITCHELL BAND     Travis Smith was motivated to be a country star when I met him.  His mother had taken lessons from me several years back.  Now in less than three years he has his own band and is doing very well opening for headliners like Cross Canadian Ragweed,  1001 Springs,  Corey Morrow,  and Ely Young to name but a few!  He plays  ADAIR'S in Deep Elum on a regular basis.   Texas Trevor on KNON has interviewed Travis' band twice and their songs are being played on the Ranch in Ft. Worth and Corsicana.  Travis even used his Mom (and guitar student) Barbara on his new cd.  Way to go Travis! 

DIVERGENCE  Guitar and bass student Brad Cooke rocking at The Curtain Club in Dallas Texas.  Brad took guitar and bass lessons for quite a while.  Very dedicated he was willing to drive 80 miles to get here.  He wanted to play in a band and now in less than two years you can find Brad and his band rocking Deep Elum at Liquid Lounge and The Curtain Club among other popular night spots. 

THE BURGUNDY BAND Features two of my students.  Chad Harmon on Bass and lead vocals and Kevin Taylor on lead guitar and vocals.  Both exceptional students that I knew would go as far as they wanted.  They just released their second CD or all original music and have real potential as a rock band.  Not bad considering they are still in high school! 

THE NEW YEAR   Guitar Student Bubba Kadane and his brother Matt have toured all over the world.  Their last CD was recorded in Chicago and engineered by the famous Steve Albini who has also worked with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page at Abbey Road Studios in England.  All this while holding down a 9 to 5 and raising a family.  VERY inspirational!

DAVID HARTWIG has super star qualities.  Very successful entertainer with his trained dog act SKIDBOOT  has been on Leno,  Letterman,  Oprah (TWICE!),  Bob Phillips Texas Country Reporter Show several times,  featured on Texas Lotto commercials on TV and radio,  won first place prize of $25,000 on Pet Star,  and all this with only three guitar lessons.  You know David is a star the second you meet him.  I am not surprised that the rest of world seems to agree!  David's mother Pat is also a great guitar student that can play anything.  A star in her own right and former Student Of The Month October 2001.  Pat travels the USA with her guitar playing for audiences all over the country.  Nice way to spend retirement! 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5249518974978628334&pr=goog-sl

Click on the link above to see the 8 minute segment of Student David Hartwig and his dog Skidboot that was just on TV recently.

David is my age. His mother currently takes lessons with me. His nephew also took lessons with me.

 

CLAY JONES is a natural born over achiever.  Engineer and Boy Scout Leader.   I met Clay when he signed his son up for guitar lessons.  His son did not take to guitar and since Clay had just bought the guitar and amp he decided he would give guitar a shot.  Clay had never played guitar before.  Now he makes his own "Dobro" custom made guitars.  He made the guitar he is playing above!  Check out this other guitar he made! Writes original music and has recorded two CDs of instrumental guitar music.  He sounds fantastic!

Cody Henderson  took twenty five lessons between February 1997 and March 1998.  Cody comes from a very musical family.  His dad is the famous Bugs Henderson .   Cody worked very hard and paid for his lessons himself.  From time to time Bugs would sit in the lessons.  Cody now is touring with Bugs and playing great rooms all over the world.  Here Cody and Bugs are at Billy Bobs Texas in Fort Worth creating life long memories.

Matt Butterfield I hardly recognize from the little kid that took lessons for so long so long ago.  Very serious and creative Matt now performs in his own band The Rick and Matt Show.  Experimental indie rock band they have been playing the Deep Elum circuit in Dallas everywhere that will let the under eighteen perform.

Marissa Manzino was a cyber student of mine back in my first year on the Internet.  We have never met in person.  She took my cd course on how to play the guitar and has done very well with that information.  Check her out! http://www.marissamusic.com/

More to come.....

I love my job.

If you would like to see your story here send it to me:  Joe@JoeTheGuitarman.com

Thank You all VERY much. Keep up the great work you all.   -Jp